| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard First District |
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| News Release |
Date: Nov. 23, 2009 |
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Search for Rhode Island fisherman continues through the night |
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BOSTON- Coast Guard crews plan to continue searching for a Rhode Island fisherman who was reported in trouble in Narragansett Bay, R.I., around 1:30 p.m., today. Missing is Chester Kidd, 47, of West Warwick, R.I. Kidd was fishing for quahog clams between Rocky Point and Quonset Point in Narragansett Bay aboard his 18-foot boat when he called a friend from his cell phone, stating that his boat was going down and he needed help. The friend called 911, which notified Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England of the distress. A Jayhawk helicopter crew, from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, was diverted to the scene and a 41-foot boat crew launched from Coast Guard Station Castle Hill. Local agencies including the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Kingstown Fire Department also helped with the search. Currently, the air crew and 41-foot boat crew are still searching. Coast Guard Cutter Hammerhead, an 87-foot patrol boat from Woods Hole, Mass., in en route and once on scene will continue to search through the night. At first light the Coast Guard plans to launch another helicopter crew and boat crew to continue the search. “Local agencies have been a big help in this case, providing more eyes on the water to search for Mr. Kidd,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Kent, a search and rescue coordinator working the case at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England. “Coast Guard crews will continue to search through the night and into the morning.” On scene winds are around 20 miles per hour with seas around three feet and visibility up to three miles. The water temperature is 51F. If anyone has any information about this case they should call Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England at 508-457-3211. |
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