Updated 1:55 p.m., Monday, Dec. 13
PORTLAND – The Coast Guard has ended its search for David Mahonen after looking for him for about 24 hours after he fell overboard.
The Coast Guard noted the rough conditions – seas of 12 to 18 feet, winds gusting to more than 45 knots and low visibility – and the water termperature of 47 degrees in announcing that the search had ended.
Mahonen, 38, of Thomaston, hadn’t been seen since the first few minutes after he fell overboard from the Timothy Michael, a 77-foot fishing boat that was homeported in Newport, R.I. His fellow crewmembers tried to get a life ring to him, but were unsuccessful and said they saw Mahonen slip under the water.
Mahonen wasn’t wearing a life jacket or survival suit when he fell overboard.
The Coast Guard immediately launched a search with a jet and a helicopter after the incident was reported about 30 miles south of Matinicus Island shortly after noon Sunday. At about 8 p.m., the Coast Guard cutter Harriet Lane arrived and continued to search overnight.
The Coast Guard said it was unable to launch an air search this morning because of low ceilings, but the cutter continued to look for Mahonen until about noon today.
Updated 11:10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 13
PORTLAND – A search for the missing Maine lobsterman who fell overboard Sunday was continuing, but poor weather and low clouds prevented the Coast Guard from using aircraft today.
A Coast Guard spokesman said the Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane was continuing to look for David Mahonen, 38, about 45 miles south of Rockland.
The spokesman said the cutter, a jet and a helicopter all looked for Mahonen until sunset Sunday and the Harriet Lane continued its search overnight and today, but there has been no sign of the Thomaston man.
The Harriet Lane is based in Virginia, but was patrolling offshore northern New England Sunday, the Coast Guard said. It arrived in the area where Mahonen fell overboard about 8 p.m. Sunday.
Seas were running 12-18 feet, the spokesman said, and winds were 30 to 40 knots with gusts to 45 knots, conditions that made the search more difficult.
Mahonen fell overboard about noon on Sunday and was not wearing a life jacket or survival suit. His three fellow crewmen on the Timothy Michael, out of Newport, R.I., tried to get a life ring to him, but were unsuccessful. They told the Coast Guard they saw Mahonen go under the water and did not see him again.
8:12 a.m.
Officials say crews are looking for David Mahonen. The Coast Guard says it received notification shortly after noon Sunday from the 77-foot lobster boat the Timothy Michael. Officials say the man fell overboard approximately 45 miles south of Rockland, Maine.
A Jayhawk helicopter, jet and Coast Guard cutter have been dispatched, and officials say search crews are battling fog, rain, 10 to 15 foot seas and winds in excess of 45 knots.
Conditions were expected to deteriorate through the night.
Officials say the Timothy Michael is based in Rhode Island.
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