Coast Guard suspends search for father, son and 4 dogs who have been missing for a week
Wednesday’s sunset brought the U.S. Coast Guard’s suspension of an seven-day search for a father and son missing between Port St. Joe and Vero Beach.
The family of Gerald Cook, 81, and Peter Cook, 55, told the Coast Guard on Feb. 19 that the men and four of their dogs left Port St. Joe on Feb. 13 in a 52-foot boat. They were supposed to go to Port Charlotte, then take the Okeechobee Waterway across the state and reach Vero Beach on Feb. 18.
With help from the U.S. Air Force, the Civil Air Patrol and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the week-long search covered 144,770 square miles.
“Suspending a search without a positive outcome is a very difficult decision,” said search and rescue mission coordinator Capt. Eric Smith. “Despite our best efforts, we were unable to locate the vessel and our condolences go out to the families and friends of Gerald and Peter who remain missing.”
