Coast Guard suspends search for missing boater

The U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search for a boater who has been missing since Friday.

The Coast Guard released a statement Sunday evening, saying the search for Cortez resident Fraser Horne, 64, was called off shortly after 5:30 p.m.

Horne was reported missing around 6:15 p.m. Friday by his wife, Michele Horne, who told officials her husband left from Egmont Key on his boat but did not return on time.

Horne’s 30-foot boat, “Golden Rush,” was found nearly five miles northwest of Bradenton, according to a tweet from the Coast Guard. Fraser’s dog, Toula, who was with him, was found alive Friday night.

The boat was in neutral, but the engine lights were left on. A wallet, keys and shoes were found by a Coast Guard rescue swimmer.

“Toula, our Golden retriever, is at home in good health, and I would like to thank the good Samaritans who found her Friday night,” Michele Horne said in the press release. “I also would like to thank the Coast Guard and the many other rescue agencies who searched for Fraser. This is an emotionally difficult time and we ask everyone to respect our family and friends privacy while we grieve for Fraser.”

Crews from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Holmes Beach Police Department, Manatee County Sheriff's Office, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission assisted in the search.

Search crews completed 32 search patterns of about 2,192 square miles over two days, according to the Coast Guard press release.

“Suspending a search is the most difficult decision I have to make and our thoughts and prayers go out to Horne’s family and friends,” said Capt. Holly Najarian, Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg commander, in the press release. “Despite our best efforts, we were unable to reunite Fraser with his family.”

Fraser is from Alberta, Canada, but he has a winter residence in Cortez.

This story was originally published November 19, 2017 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Coast Guard suspends search for missing boater."