Coast Guard Searching Gulf for Ft. Lauderdale Man

The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing its search today for a Ft. Lauderdale man who was reported missing Saturday from a 46-foot pleasure craft about 75-miles west of Bayport.

Lindsay Forde, 48, of Ft. Lauderdale, the captain of the vessel, was reported missing at 6:37 p.m. Saturday, by vessel owner Michael Swindle, whose age and hometown are not known.

According to Coast Guard officials, Swindle had recently hired Forde to help him take the vessel from Houston, where it was purchased, to Florida.

According to Swindle, he had gone below deck and when he went topside again Forde had disappeared. Forde is reported to have not been wearing a life jacket.

A Coast Guard rescue helicopter from Clearwater arrived on scene at 7:25 p.m. Saturday, and began searching the vicinity for Forde. Coast Guard rescue helicopter are continuing to search today.

In the search area, seas are running six to eight feet, winds are at 27 knots, there are scattered thunderstorms and the water temperature is 87 degrees. Conditions were similar Saturday when the search for Forde began.

The Coast Guard Cutter Hawk, stationed in St. Petersburg, Fla., is currently escorting Swindle and the vessel to Tarpon Springs.