Coast Guard Launches Search for Two Missing Fishermen Off Florida Coast
FORT MYERS, Fla. — A desperate search is underway for two men, uncle and nephew, who vanished after heading out for a fishing trip off the coast of Fort Myers, Florida. The U.S. Coast Guard discovered their boat running but empty approximately 70 miles offshore late Friday night, sparking a wide-ranging rescue operation.
The missing men, 57-year-old Randall Spivey and 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier, left early Friday morning and were expected back by the afternoon. When they failed to return and did not respond to calls, their families grew alarmed. Billmaier’s wife shared the distressing news on social media, which helped bring attention to the ongoing search.
At around 11 p.m. Friday, the Coast Guard deployed a helicopter to aid in the search. By 1:30 a.m. Saturday, authorities located the vessel, which was still running and found to be in gear. According to Riley Perkofski, a public affairs specialist for the U.S. Coast Guard Southeast District, a swimmer was deployed to secure the boat by dropping its anchor to prevent it from drifting further.
Despite the boat’s discovery, neither Spivey nor Billmaier was aboard. The Coast Guard has since expanded the search area to cover approximately 35 miles in all directions from the last known location, utilizing aerial and surface vessels to scour the ocean. Search efforts extend up to 5,000 feet in the air, with officials urging pilots to maintain situational awareness to avoid interfering with rescue operations.
Spivey is described as a 6-foot-1 man with brown hair and brown eyes, last seen wearing khaki pants and a dark-colored shirt. Billmaier stands 6-foot-2, with strawberry hair and brown eyes. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has been actively involved in the investigation and search, providing descriptions and updates to the public.
The family has issued heartfelt pleas for assistance and prayers. Tricia Spivey, Randall’s wife, expressed her anguish in an interview, saying, “We’ve gotta find them. Please. Please, please find them. They’re amazing people. I just need him back. He needs to come back to us.”
The Coast Guard is leading the search and has requested anyone with information to contact U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg at 866-881-1392. The incident highlights the dangers of offshore fishing and the critical role of maritime rescue agencies.
For more information on maritime safety and ongoing search and rescue efforts, visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the NOAA Fisheries Maritime Safety pages.
The community and authorities remain hopeful as the search continues into the weekend, underscoring the urgency and peril faced by those who venture into open waters.
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