The search continues for two off-duty firefighters who reportedly vanished Friday while fishing off the coast of Florida.
According to WTLV, Brian McCluney, of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, and Justin Walker, of the Fairfax, Virginia, Fire Department, were last seen leaving the 200 Christopher Columbus boat ramp at Port Canaveral, which is located near the Kennedy Space Center. Jacksonville Fire Chief Keith Powers said Monday’s search involves 36 boats and about 135 people and has spanned more than 60 miles from shore in some areas.
Powers described McCluney as a veteran with extensive training for life-or-death situations at sea.
.@USCG crews are searching for 2 overdue boaters near #PortCanaveral. Brian McCluney and Justin Walker were last seen Friday and reported to be going to the 8A Reef. #HappeningNow #BreakingNews
More here: https://t.co/taBQUtaplm pic.twitter.com/jjRClGlwtw
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) August 17, 2019
“We’re talking about a combat-wounded veteran here and a firefighter,” the fire chief said. “Top shelf, that’s the easiest way to describe him.”
In a press release, the Coast Guard said the pair’s location was 8A Reef, an offshore fishing spot. Surveillance stills appear to show them at the ramp and launching the boat into the water.
WFTV reported that relatives contacted the Coast Guard when they didn’t return Friday evening. The Coast Guard said they’ve gotten leads over the weekend about debris at St. Augustine and a boat near Jacksonville, but that both were found to be false alarms.
Anyone with information regarding the two men’s whereabouts is asked to call the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville Command Center at 904-714-7558.
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[Featured image: Brian McCluney, Justin Walker/Twitter, handout]
