The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force joined efforts yesterday to locate two Eleuthera men who are missing at sea.

The men were reported missing after their fishing vessel capsized off Hatchet Bay Saturday morning.

The United States Coast Guard along with residents combed the shoreline yesterday after “choppy” seas made it impossible for boats to go out on the water.

The men, Ryan McCardy and Blanc Johnson, left with three other men for a fishing trip around 9am Saturday. Inclement weather pushed the five men to a rocky shoreline after the vessel overturned.

Chara Saunders, Epesias Pinder and Johnny Simmons were able to swim to shore, however Mr McCardy and Mr Johnson were pulled under by strong currents and pushed out to sea.

RBDF public relations officer Lt Origin Deleveaux said because of two search and rescue operations in Nassau, the RBDF was not able to send help immediately. However he said a boat was on its way to Eleuthera yesterday afternoon.

Officer In Charge of Eleuthera and the Berry Islands, Superintendent Ismella Davis, said the families are still hopeful that the men will be found alive.

She said the search along the shore will continue until they are able to go onto the water.

Meanwhile, three men were reported missing Sunday night by relatives in Nassau, have been rescued.

Lt Deleveaux said the men disappeared around 8pm Sunday in the Green Cay area off Clifton. The RBDF deployed a vessel to search for the men, but their efforts were hampered by the darkness and rough seas.

However, the search resumed yesterday morning and the men were found in good health and were towed to shore by a RBDF vessel. They arrived at the Coral Harbour base at 2:30pm.