Man missing in Gulf off Fort Myers Beach after fishing boat sinks, three others rescued

A search by the U.S. Coast Guard is underway in the Gulf of Mexico for a 63-year-old man after a fishing boat carrying four men sank early Thursday morning 70 miles southwest of Fort Myers Beach.

Dennis Grim is the missing boater, the Coast Guard reported. Rescued after the sinking were James Beeman, Anthony Bertolino, and Darren Whalen. 

At 3:59 a.m. a distress call was received at the Coast Guard's St. Petersburg station received via VHF-FM marine band radio channel 16 from Beeman, the captain aboard the 37-foot, fiberglass-hulled commercial fishing boat, J.U.M.A., out of Seminole, Florida.

Beeman reported the boat was taking on water and he needed emergency assistance. At the same time, Coast Guard Seventh District watchstanders received an emergency position-indicating radio beacon alert correlating to the J.U.M.A.’s position.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater was launched, arrived on scene and rescued three people clinging to life jackets and debris. The boaters reported Grim missing.

The helicopter crew transported the three boaters to Lee Memorial Hospital to be treated for hypothermia. Water temperatures in the Gulf were reported to be around 75 degrees.

An HC-144 Casa fixed-wing aircrew from Air Station Miami, the Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback, a 45-foot response boat-medium boat crew from the Coast Guard's Fort Myers Beach station and the Jayhawk helicopter crew are searching for the missing boater.

The Coast Guard is asking mariners to keep a lookout and contact the Coast Guard's St. Petersburg station via VHF-FM marine band radio channel 16 or at 727-824-7506 with any information regarding the missing boater. 

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