Crystal River man found dead, Inglis boater still missing, near Cedar Key, FL in Gulf of Mexico
USCG photo of debris from vessel Dog House, found in Gulf near Cedar Key.
U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Tampa Bay
St. Perersburg, Florida - On Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in the Gulf of Mexico near Cedar Key, Florida, the U.S. Coast Guard recovered the body of one missing boater, 33 year-old David Savoie of Crystal River, Florida, and continues the search for the other missing boater, 39 year-old Michael Sedor, 39, of Inglis, Florida.
"Our deepest sympathies go out to the family, friends and loved ones of David," said Capt. Matthew Thompson, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. “Our rescue crews have been diligently continuing the search and rescue efforts to find Michael."
The two reportedly departed from the Blackwater Marina in Yankeetown, Florida on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 in a 31-foot, 1985 Trophy recreational vessel named “Dog House.” About 11:00 am the following day, Wednesday, December 29, a good Samaritan reported to Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders of seeing debris in the water, about 7 miles offshore from Cedar Key. The debris was found to be remains of the vessel Dog House. The watchstanders deployed Coast Guard crews to search the area, with the help of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Levi County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO).
According to a press release on Sunday, Coast Guard and other crews have searched for nearly 60 hours, covering more than 948 square nautical miles. Rescue assets involved in the search so far:
- Coast Guard Station Yankeetown 27-foot boat crew
- The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Crocodile
- The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback
- Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater HC-130 and MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrews
- FWC marine crews
- Levy Sheriff’s County Office crews