Search continues for 2 missing Fla. boaters; aircraft photographs distress signal in sand
By APFriday, December 18, 2009
Search continues for 2 missing boaters from Fla.
MIAMI — The Coast Guard is continuing its search for two missing boaters after a plane flying over an island in the Bahamas photographed what appeared to be a distress signal.
Richard Alicea and Edwin Pritchard left from Halouver Inlet in Miami on Saturday en route to the Bahamas on a 17-foot boat. A family member contacted authorities when they didn’t arrive the next day.
On Tuesday, the Coast Guard received photographs from a commuter aircraft showing what appear to be people on Berry Islands in the Bahamas. One photograph also shows an “SOS” distress signal written in the sand.
The Coast Guard searched the island in aircraft and on foot but found no sign of the men.
Authorities have searched about 46,000 square miles.
