FL FL - Carlos Garcia-Cruz, 52, jet skier, Marathon, Monroe County, 22 Dec 2018

[cybervampira]

Coast Guard searches for overdue boater near Marathon

MIAMI—The Coast Guard is searching for an overdue jet skier, Wednesday near Marathon.

Missing is Carlos Garcia-Cruz, 52, of Miami.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Key West received a report Tuesday from Garcia-Cruz's girlfriend, stating he was last seen wearing a life jacket on a blue and white jet ski departing Marathon Saturday and expected to return on Christmas Eve.

A Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew is searching.

No further information is available.

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US Coast Guard searching for missing jet skier off Florida Keys

Coast Guard searching for missing Miami man in the Keys

Jet skier missing off Florida Keys, Coast Guard says

 

[GraceG]

Back in the days when I was flying for a living, after dropping my boss (owner of a corporate jet) off at Key West my copilot and I drove to Marathon as there weren't rooms available there for both of us. While we waited to get called to fly him home we rented a jet ski that we could ride tandem. I managed to fall off twice. Then I noticed a very large great white shark in the area. I did NOT fall off again and we carefully headed straight for shore and did NOT go back in the water. I hope this man is found safe.

 

[moonriverfarm]

So this man was going to ride the jet ski for three days? To where and why? "Departing Marathon Saturday and expected to return Christmas day"???????

 

[Timekeeper65]

Departed on Saturday and reported missing on Tuesday???? Say what?

What was the girlfriend doing from Saturday until Tuesday? Just wondering why this man was not reported missing on Saturday.

 

[Timekeeper65]

This story doesn’t sound right. Like moonriverfarm stated above - a 3 day jet ski adventure? Kinda like that “3 hour tour” back in the day.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

yes, I agree, something is off here. I am not suspicious, just think there are some gaps to fill. That said, we have jetskis and live in Arizona but no way I'd get on now even with a wetsuit. Brrrr....

ETA: IMO, he had to be traveling TO somewhere in order to be expected back on a certain day. And no mention of a wetsuit, just a life jacket. Ok, now my hackles are rising...

 

[JerseyGirl]

Makes no sense to me. He went missing Saturday on a jet ski and wasn't expected to return until Christmas Eve?????

When he didn't return, his girlfriend reported him missing???

Coast Guard searching for missing jet skier off Marathon

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

Maybe he was just running (jetskiing) down to Cuba and back.

 

[meanmaryjean]

Do they have that kind of range?

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

well, it's not that far and maybe you could carry an extra can, or get fuel from other boaters en route. idk, just spitballing.

Search has been called off. Miami man was last seen on a jet ski in the Keys. Coast Guard has called off its search

Seems they should be able to find something... some time...

 

[SpanishMossAntiques]

So this man was going to ride the jet ski for three days? To where and why? "Departing Marathon Saturday and expected to return Christmas day"???????

He was probably intending to go to Cay Sal Bank - an atoll located around 25 miles south of 'The Hump' (an underwater mountain around 20 miles or so south of Marathon).

Cay Sal Bank is a tiny, deserted island owned by the Bahamas. When I lived in Marathon back in the 80's-1999 it was known as a place where drug traffickers would unload from the big boat, and pack it into smaller boats - and sometimes Jet Skis. It's also been used as a stop-over for Cuban refugees who are making their way to America, and some people do camp there.

The fishing around the island is incredible (off topic, but I caught a 350lb Blue Marlin near there), which is a draw to the island as well.

There are the remains of a small lighthouse on the island, and some transients make the basement of it their home (at least for a while). The only fresh water on the island is rainwater collected in coral rock pools.

Anyway, to get to Cay Sal you have to cross the Gulf Stream - that famous current that usually runs around 4 Knots; that can take you waaay off course quickly if you're not paying attention. The water in that area of the sea is 1000' deep or more in places, the Gulf Stream is loaded with huge sharks, giant squid (which are brutal animals), 1000lb swordfish, and the usual sea mammals.

When I lived in marathon I would routinely take my WaveRunner long distances, but I always had redundant electronics with me, a PLB, emergency equipment, extra cans of gas, etc -AND- I always filed a Float Plan with the USCG and the Dock Master at the place I was leaving from. I also left a map of my intended route with my best friend, just in case.

One WS in a comment above suggested he might have been intending to go to Cuba, which is a distinct possibility too - since he was from Miami, so most likely he was not familiar with the seas around Marathon and just how far Cuba is (you can indeed get to Cuba via a water machine, but you'd need to get gas along the way, and the trip would be very physically demanding - and a challenge to avoid sun poisoning when on the water without shade for that long).

 

[PayrollNerd]

If he did head out in treacherous waters, that would explain why the jet ski was never found, much less his remains. I wonder if he had done this before and that is why it seemed reasonable to do it this time.

 

[SpanishMossAntiques]

I cannot find him on NAMUS - anyone know if he was located?

 

[SpanishMossAntiques]

If he did head out in treacherous waters, that would explain why the jet ski was never found, much less his remains. I wonder if he had done this before and that is why it seemed reasonable to do it this time.

I have a ton of experience on a WaveRunner playing in 30'+ seas in the Gulf Stream; you have to know what you're doing out there (and never go alone). The sea off the Keys is unforgiving, and unpredictable at times.