The search for the fourth crew-member, Jaime Gallega, lost in the sinking of the fishing vessel "Advantage" early yesterday morning 14 miles off of Kodiak Island has been called off according to the United States Coast Guard.
Jayhawk helicopter and HC-130 Hercules crews searched the area where the vessel went down yesterday after a Jayhawk helicopter brought three of the crew that they plucked from a liferaft back to Kodiak.
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After 18 hours of searching and covering over 1,400 square miles of ocean, the Coast Guard’s 17th district Chief of Response Capt Gregory Sanial announced that the Coast Guard’s search has been officially suspended. “Suspending a search for a missing person is one of the most difficult decisions we have to make,” said Capt. Sanial “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family and friends during this difficult time.”
One of the three brought to the hospital suffering from hypothermia, skipper Leif Bolan, has also died.
Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis said that since none of the crew had donned survival suits, it is assumed that the vessel sank quickly. The cause of the sinking has yet to be determined however. When Coast Guard crews arrived at the scene, only a debris field and the liferaft containing three of the crew remained.
The Coast Guard is continuing its investigation of the sinking.







