Coast Guard Suspends Search for Missing Delray Woman

DELRAY BEACH, FL — The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a missing Delray Beach woman, who was last seen on Mother's Day following a boating accident near the Bahamas. Rescuers found Isabella Hellman's husband, Lewis Bennett. But they were unable to locate the 41-year-old Hellman after an extensive search. The search was suspended on Thursday at 8:45 p.m.

"Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Ms. Hellman in this difficult time," said Capt. Aldante Vinciguerra, chief of response for the Coast Guard Seventh District. "Suspending a search is never an easy call to make and was made with deep consideration in this tragic case."

Watch standers with the Coast Guard Seventh District Command Center received notification at approximately 1:30 a.m. Monday from an emergency position indicating radio beacon that was registered to the 37-foot catamaran, "Surf Into Summer."

Bennett, who owns the vessel, told rescuers that he was abandoning his vessel and didn't know where his wife, Hellman, was. Response crews arrived on scene and rescued Bennett from a life raft at about 4:37 a.m. Monday. He was taken to Marathon, Florida with no reported injuries or medical concerns.

Bennett said that the catamaran struck an unknown object and began taking on water. He is also 41.

Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater C-130 Hercules airplane crews; Air Station Clearwater MH-60 helicopter crews; Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crews; the Coast Guard Cutter Kathleen Moore crew; the Coast Guard Cutter Charles David Jr. crew; and the Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo crew covered more than 6,680 square miles searching for Hellman.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard