Firefighters' Boat Mystery: What Kind Did They Have?

In August 2019, two firefighters, Brian McCluney and Justin Walker, went missing during a fishing trip off the coast of Florida. The pair were last seen launching a 22-foot fishing boat at Port Canaveral, near the Kennedy Space Center. A bag belonging to McCluney was later found by a civilian searcher about 50 miles east of St. Augustine, but there was no sign of the boat. The search for the missing firefighters and their boat involved multiple agencies and volunteers, and covered a vast area of ocean.

Brian McCluney and Justin Walker were last seen launching a 22-foot fishing boat

McCluney, a firefighter from Jacksonville, Florida, and Walker, a member of the Fairfax, Virginia Fire Department, had taken the boat out to honour McCluney's recently deceased father.

"He wanted to get those lines wet one more time," said McCluney's wife, Stephanie. "You know, one big final hurrah for his dad, and it was just supposed to be one great day in his honour... he was excited to get out there on the water."

The Coast Guard, along with partner agencies, deployed boats and aircraft to search for the missing men. Surveillance footage showed McCluney and Walker departing a Port Canaveral boat ramp on the day they disappeared. The search covered an estimated 4,800 to 50,000 square miles of ocean between Port Canaveral and north of Jacksonville.

The boat belonged to McCluney's late father

Brian McCluney and Justin Walker, two firefighters from Florida, went missing during a fishing trip in August 2019. They were last seen departing on a 22-foot fishing boat from Port Canaveral, near the Kennedy Space Center. The boat they were using belonged to McCluney's late father.

McCluney and Walker took the boat out to honour McCluney's father, who had passed away a few weeks prior. According to McCluney's wife, Stephanie, her husband wanted to get out on the water one more time as a "final hurrah" for his dad.

The Coast Guard, along with partner agencies, launched a massive search operation to find the missing men. They were supported by the U.S. Navy, the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, who deployed boats and aircraft to aid in the search. Despite their efforts, there was no sign of the boat the firefighters had taken out.

Stephanie McCluney expressed her concern about her husband's disappearance, stating that she knew something was wrong when she didn't hear from him by 6 pm, and her messages to him hadn't been delivered. She also shared her confidence in her husband's survival skills, citing his military and firefighter training, as well as his experience growing up on the water.

The search for the missing firefighters, Brian McCluney and Justin Walker, continued into its fourth day, with volunteers and partner agencies joining the effort. The case highlights the dedication and brotherhood within the firefighting community, as well as the resilience and hope displayed by the families and loved ones of the missing men.

The pair were reported missing by their families when they didn't return that evening

The pair, Brian McCluney and Justin Walker, were reported missing by their families when they didn't return that evening. McCluney and Walker were last seen on Friday, August 16, 2019, launching a 22-foot fishing boat at Port Canaveral, near the Kennedy Space Center. They were due to return that evening, but when they didn't, McCluney's wife, Stephanie, waited until 8 p.m. before calling the Coast Guard.

The two men were firefighters, McCluney with the Jacksonville Fire Department and Walker with the Fairfax County, Virginia Fire Department. They had taken the boat out for the day to honour McCluney's recently departed father.

The Coast Guard, along with partner agencies, deployed boats and aircraft to search for the missing men. The search covered a vast area, with approximately 5,000 square miles of water searched on Monday alone. The search focused on an area of ocean where a civilian found a bag belonging to McCluney, which his wife confirmed was his.

The next 24 hours were deemed critical to finding the men, and the search continued into its fifth day, with crews clinging to hope of finding the two men alive.

A civilian searcher found McCluney's fishing bag 50 miles from St. Augustine

On August 16, 2019, two firefighters, Brian McCluney and Justin Walker, embarked on a fishing trip in a 22-foot fishing boat from Port Canaveral, Florida. They were last seen departing the 300 Christopher Columbus boat ramp, heading toward the 8A reef. When the pair failed to return home that evening, their families notified the U.S. Coast Guard, who launched a search operation with several boats and a search plane, assisted by the Navy and Brevard County Sheriff's Office.

As the search entered its fourth day, a significant development unfolded. A civilian searcher found an offshore angular fishing bag belonging to Brian McCluney, approximately 50 nautical miles east of St. Augustine. This discovery, confirmed by McCluney's family, prompted a shift in the search efforts, with officials requesting assistance from anyone with a boat capable of venturing 30 to 60 miles offshore to aid in the search.

The discovery of McCluney's fishing bag provided a glimmer of hope in the desperate search for the missing firefighters. The bag was found about 50 miles from St. Augustine, indicating that the pair might have ventured farther than initially anticipated. This finding led to a northward expansion of the search area, stretching along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina. The U.S. Coast Guard, along with partner agencies, mobilized an extensive search operation, deploying boats and aircraft to scour the waters for any signs of the missing men.

The civilian searcher's discovery of McCluney's fishing bag played a pivotal role in refocusing and intensifying the search efforts. It served as a crucial piece of evidence, indicating the potential location of the missing firefighters. The bag's distance from St. Augustine underscored the need to expand the search area and enlist additional support from volunteers and partner agencies. The incident highlights the crucial role that civilian searchers and community support can play in such situations, complementing the efforts of professional rescue teams.

The wives of the missing firefighters, Stephanie McCluney and Natasha Walker, demonstrated unwavering resolve and faith during the challenging time. They actively participated in the search efforts, with Natasha boarding a private plane to aid in the aerial search along the Florida coastline. Stephanie McCluney expressed her confidence in her husband's survival skills and her belief that the bag's discovery was a "breadcrumb" signalling their presence in the area.

The US Coast Guard, Navy, and local law enforcement joined the search

The Coast Guard deployed a search plane and several boats and were assisted by the Navy and the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. About 50 firefighters from the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department also joined the search, combing the waters between Daytona Beach and Vilano in 11 boats over the weekend. Additionally, the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife provided support, and a C-130 plane was deployed by the Coast Guard to search from the air.

The search effort covered a vast area, with crews searching over 50,000 square miles of ocean. On Tuesday, more than 75 boats and 11 airplanes were deployed to search an area about 50 nautical miles off the coast of St. Augustine, where a civilian had discovered McCluney's fishing tackle bag. The search focused on this area as it was believed to be the last known location of the missing firefighters.

The US Coast Guard, Navy, and local law enforcement worked tirelessly in the search for the missing firefighters, demonstrating their commitment to finding the two men. The involvement of multiple agencies and the utilization of various resources in the search effort highlight the urgency and importance of locating the missing individuals.

As the search continued, the Jacksonville Fire Chief, Keith Powers, requested volunteers with boats that could safely travel at least 60 miles offshore to join the rescue effort. The search area was expanded further north, and volunteer boaters from Savannah and Brunswick, Georgia, were called upon to assist. The strong gulf current moving north presented a challenge, as any potential clues could be carried away, making the search even more challenging.

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