Ship captain missing in Mississippi River; search underway
The Coast Guard is searching for a missing man in the lower area of the Mississippi River near Donaldsonville on Sunday, July 17.
By Wilborn P. Nobles III, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
updated July 17, 2016 at 8:17 PM
The Coast Guard was searching the Mississippi River near Donaldsonville for a ship captain who fell into the water Sunday morning (July 17) while trying to board a freighter from a crew boat. Authorities said Ambarish Parekh was last seen about 9:30 a.m. in a blue shirt and long pants and wearing a personal floating device.
He was reportedly trying to board the African Raptor from a crew boat. He fell from a ramp connecting the two vessels, officials said.
Groups aiding the Coast Guard in the search include the New Orleans post authority, and the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office. The Coast Guard said it dispatched a 29-foot response boat, a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and a Mobile HC-144 fixed-wing aircraft from New Orleans.
Anyone with information on Parekh was asked to call the Coast Guard's Sector New Orleans Command Center at 504.365.2209.