HOBE SOUND, Fla. — The Coast Guard said Friday it's searching for a missing man whose boat was found off the Treasure Coast.
Nancy Simile said her brother, Richard Ferazi, 57, of Jupiter, went fishing at 1 p.m. Thursday, leaving from North Palm Beach. He then called his wife four hours later, at approximately 5 p.m., saying he was staying out for another hour.
Ferazi hasn't been seen since, according to his sister.
“We believe that he may have gone overboard at the Boynton Beach Inlet and we just want everyone to please help,” said Simile.
The Coast Guard confirmed to WPTV that Ferazi's boat — which is approximately 30 feet long — was found 12 miles east of Hobe Sound. It was idling, but Ferazi was not on board.
In a post on X, the agency said Ferazi was expected to return to Murrelle Marine in Lantana at 6 p.m. Thursday.
#BREAKING @USCG air and surface crews are searching for an overdue boater last heard from at 5 p.m. Thurs. He was expected to return to Murrelle Marine at approximately 6 p.m.
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) August 2, 2024
Anyone with info regarding the missing mariner please call Sector #Miami @ 305-535-4300#SAR pic.twitter.com/dptzKPmEUM
"He can get through tough situations. He's been through tough situations, and he knows how to survive in the water," Simile told WPTV journalist Dave Bohman. "He's waiting for us to come get him. He's there waiting for someone to find him."
Simile said they have a "great network" of friends who are boat captains who, along with the Coast Guard, are searching for Ferazi.
"We need to bring him home for his children and his wife," Simile said.
The Coast Guard said they will continue searching throughout Friday night and into Saturday morning from the water and in the air.
“We’ve covered an area of 3,069 square miles all along the southeastern coast of Florida, geographically a large area. As it progresses that search area expands,” said Nicholas Strasburg, petty officer third class with the U.S Coast Guard District 7.
However, time is of the essence as a tropical system approaches Florida.
"We hope to be able to search as much as possible before this weather comes but if it is severe enough it will hinder our operations," said Strasburg. “We remain optimistic as of right now that the weather has not had an effect.”
Anyone with information about Ferazi should call the U.S. Coast Guard Miami Sector at 305-535-4300.
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