Fisherman overboard - no lifejacket on

Captains,

Lifejackets save lives. Make sure your crew wears a lifejacket on deck.

RDML W

Jan 30, 2010

The Coast Guard suspended its search 6:30 p.m. Friday for a fisherman who reportedly fell overboard approximately 66 miles southeast of Beaufort Inlet.

Missing is Allen Nelson III, 52, a crewmember aboard the fishing vessel Scarlett Lady.

Crewmembers of the fishing vessel Shelly called watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Carolina at 6:45 p.m. Thursday relaying that crew on the Scarlet Lady had witnessed the man, wearing yellow rain gear and no life jacket, falling overboard. The crew also reported they threw a life ring to him, but did not know whether he was able to get the ring.

Search and rescue air crews aboard an HC-130 Hercules airplane and MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters from Air Station Elizabeth City searched Thursday night through Friday night for the man.

The crew of the Shelly, the Scarlett Lady, and the Coast Guard Cutter Seahorse and Staten Island, both 87-foot patrol boats, also participated in search efforts.

The rescue crews searched a total of 1,395 square nautical miles combined for Nelson.