Friday July, 8 2011 @ 22:44:44 Nature: Water Rescue Priority Location: Massey’s Landing Address: 36678 Long Neck Rd Millsboro, DE 19966 On Friday evening, July 8th, the Indian River, Millsboro and Dagsboro fire companies were alerted for a water rescue priority search for an overdue jet ski with 1 adult male and 3 youth. The information was reported via the Delaware State Police and the DNREC Marine Police officers. It appears that a father and three children left the Love Creek Boat Marina earlier in the day for recreational boating with a jet ski and a recreational water tube. According to the adult male, at approximately 6:15 p.m., the jet ski become inoperable because of rope entanglement in the water propulsion system of the jet ski and the significant severe weather approached Sussex County. At approximately 10:44 p.m., the initial fire companies as well as the DNREC Marine Police, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Agents, United States Coast Guard were alerted to conduct a land and water search between the areas of Love Creek Marina off of John J. Williams Highway and the Indian River Inlet via the various waterways including but not limited to Indian River and Rehoboth bays. After the initial search patterns were coordinated, Indian River’s Duty Officer requested additional marine unit assistance from Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach fire companies as was an aviation unit from the United States Coast Guard Station in Atlantic City, New Jersey. All vessels coordinated search patterns starting from Massey Landing to the Indian River Inlet along all shore lines, marinas, islands, etc. including the north and south areas of the inlet. These initial searches yielded no positive results and the search patterns were widened to incorporate the marinas off of Indian River Bay near Pot Nets Communities and the shore lines of the Rehoboth Beach towards Dewey Beach and backwards toward Love Creek. A marine unit from Millsboro initially located an orange life jacket in the reeds and footprints in the sand along the shoreline. These searchers requested assistance from the aviation unit which was able to locate one (1) adult male and (3) youth near Thompson Island off of the month of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal vigorously waiving their hands. The various marine units assisted with the removal of the stranded mariners and transported them to Massey’s Landing for a pre-hospital medical evaluation by the Sussex County Paramedics. Other marine units towed their recreational raft and jet ski to Massey’s Landing as well. It appears that the mariners floated in the Rehoboth Bay during the periods of inclement weather and were glad to be located by the volunteer firefighters and USCG Aviation Unit. The following marine units were utilized: • 80 Marine 1 departed from Massey’s Landing; • 80 Marine 2 departed from Massey’s Landing searched from Massey’s Landing to Indian River Inlet and returned towards Dewey Beach; • 80 Marine 3 departed from Massey’s Landing searched from Massey’s Landing towards Love Creek; • Marine 83 departed from Massey’s Landing searched from Massey’s Landing toward Rehoboth; • Marine 73 departed from Vines Creek area and searched Indian River Bay towards Massey’s Landing ; • Marine 70 departed from Indian River Inlet and searched towards Massey’s Landing and into Rehoboth Bay; • Marine 86 commenced searching in the Rehoboth Bay; and • United States Coast Guard vessel departed from Indian River Inlet towards Massey’s Landing and Rehoboth Bay area. Additional information may be obtained via the following website: (1) WGMD Radio 92.7 - http://www.wgmd.com/?p=28893 UPDATE: Massive Water Search Underway for Missing Man and 3 Children UPDATE: Around 1:30 a.m., Coast Guard Helicopter 6517 spotted the missing man and children. The helicopter crew reported that they “were waving their arms pretty well.” They were discovered off Thompson Island near the mouth of the Lewes & Rehoboth Canal in the Rehoboth Bay. ORIGINAL POST: Multiple Sussex County fire companies along with the state police, DNREC and the Coast Guard have been searching the Rehoboth and Indian River bays for a missing white Jet-Ski with a man and three children on board. All four reportedly wore lifejackets. The fire companies became involved around 11:45 p.m. The man reportedly departed Love Creek on a Jet-Ski pulling a florescent green and black tube and three children. He has not been seen since. As of 1 a.m., searchers are checking an area near Mariner’s Cove after spotting a lifejacket and single set of footprints. A police dog is en route to assist. A Coast Guard helicopter joined the search around 1 a.m.