Coast Guard Suspends Search For Missing Crew Member From Seminole

PINELLAS BEACHES, FL -- The Coast Guard suspended the search Friday, March 16 at 1:30 p.m. for a missing 63-year-old Seminole man in the Gulf of Mexico after his commercial fishing boat sank 70 miles southwest of Fort Myers Beach.

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Dennis Grim, 63, was a crew member for a fishing boat that sank Thursday afternoon. The captain and two other crew members were rescued by the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard and partner agencies conducted 19 searches for Grim covering approximately 2,582 square miles in 39 hours.

"Anytime we have to suspend a search, especially when we couldn't bring everyone home safe, is the most difficult decision I have to make," said Cmdr. Randall Brown, Sector St. Petersburg's deputy commander. "Our thoughts go out to all those that knew Mr. Grim."

At 3:59 a.m. Thursday, March 15, Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a distress call via VHF-FM marine band radio channel 16 from James Beeman, captain aboard the 37-foot commercial fishing boat, J.U.M.A., out of Seminole.

Beeman reported the boat was taking on water and he needed emergency assistance. At the same time, Coast Guard Seventh District watchstanders received an emergency position-indicating radio beacon alert correlating to the J.U.M.A.'s position.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater was launched, arrived on scene and rescued Beeman, Anthony Bertolino and Darren Whalen who were clinging to life jackets and debris.

The boaters reported Grim missing.

The helicopter crew transported the three boaters to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers to be treated for hypothermia.

Crews involved in the search for Grim included:

An HC-144 Casa fixed-wing aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Miami

Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback, homeported in Fort Myers Beach

Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew

MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and HC-130 Hercules fixed-wing aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission aircrew.

Image via Coast Guard

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