Benjamin Symmes 07-31-09
Coast Guard suspends search for man missing near Togiak
Anchorage Daily News, Published: August 1st, 2009
BRISTOL BAY -- The Coast Guard has suspended its search for a commercial fisherman
who reportedly fell overboard Friday night near Anchor Point in Togiak Bay.
The Coast Guard says 31-year-old Benjamin Symmes, of Montana, disappeared from the
28-foot seine boat Miss Colleen around 9:45 p.m. Friday.
A Coast Guard helicopter and a fixed-wing plane from Air Station Kodiak flew to
the bay on Friday night to join the crew of Miss Colleen, based in Anacortes, Wash.,
and about 10 good Samaritan vessels, in an overnight search for Symmes.
The Coast Guard said it resumed the search for Symmes at 8 a.m. Saturday but suspended
it at 5:20 p.m. The search lasted about 16 hours and covered more than 300 square
miles, according to a Coast Guard press release.
Weather in the area on Saturday was mostly cloudy and seas were at about seven feet.