Crime & Safety

Search Suspended for Fisherman Missing Off Egmont Key

Gary Ketlehut of Madeira Beach was last seen sleeping aboard a commercial fishing boat, off Egmont Key. The next morning he was gone.

Ketlehut was last seen on board the No Bull, a 42-foot fishing boat, which was northwest of Egmont Key. The crew of the No Bull stopped fishing at midnight Wednesday, July 31, and Ketlehut was sleeping on the bow. 

BayNews9 reports that Ketlehut, 53, was a commercial fisherman for Fishbusterz of Madeira Beach and aboard its vessel when he disappeared as the rest of the crew slept. Ketlehut was wearing tan shorts with no lifejacket. The incident is under investigation. 

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The Coast Guard launched its search after receiving a distress call on Wednesday, July 31. It called off the search Thursday night. Search and rescue crews searched for 55 hours, covering more than 2,150 square miles.  

“Our goal is for a positive outcome and we want to bring the missing home, so it's always difficult when we have to suspend the search,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Josuah Chears-Stevens, a search and rescue coordinator at the sector. 

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Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a relayed distress call from 7th Coast Guard District watchstanders at 7:15 a.m., Wednesday, reporting that he was not on the vessel when the crew awoke at 6 a.m.  

Sector watchstanders launched  an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and an HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew from Air Station Clearwater. 

Coast Guard Cutter Hawk, an 87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat homeported in St. Petersburg, was diverted to assist in the search as well.

Anyone with information leading to the whereabouts of Kettlehut is asked to contact Coast Guard watchstanders at 727-824-7506.

Additional coverage of missing boater

Search Continues for Missing Madeira Beach Fisherman


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