Family reported missing after snorkeling trip found by Coast Guard near Key West

KEY WEST, Fla. – The U.S. Coast Guard found four boaters Wednesday, a day after they were reported missing after leaving on a snorkeling trip off Key West.

The missing boaters from Central Florida were identified Wednesday as David Thompson, 48, Adam Kelley, 28, Joshua Thompson, 15, and Evan Thompson, 11.

"It was sheer relief watching 11 and 15-year-old boys come off and hug their moms," U.S. Coast Guard Key West Commander Clint Prindle said. "That was pretty cool."

The Thompson family is from Orlando and Kelley is from Gainesville. They and other family members came to Key West to take part in lobster mini-season on Tuesday. The group of four set out from Banana Bay Resort in Key West.  

At about 1 p.m. on Tuesday, the engine on their 25-foot Grady White gave out. 

"They lost power to the boat and began to drift sometime around 8:30 (Tuesday) night," Prindle said. 

They were expected to return to the resort before 4 p.m. family members reported them missing at 6:30 p.m.

The Coast Guard said an air crew spotted the family nearly 40 nautical miles northwest of Key West about 3:30 p.m.

"We were able to vector in a boat about within an hour, get them on board, and their vessel is back in tow as well," Prindle said. 

The air crew initially attempted to drop a radio to the family, but it fell into the water.

The Coast Guard then sent one of its vessels to the boat.

A concerned family member contacted watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Key West at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to report them overdue after they failed to return.

Coast Guard crews searched by air and sea for the family, covering nearly 4,000 square nautical miles. 

Authorities said the four were in good spirits and good health when they were found. The family is expected to continue their Key West vacation. 

The Coast Guard said filing a float plan with their family helped lead to the happy ending. 

"They knew exactly when their boat should be back and where they were going to be fishing, and that led our search efforts as to where we should be looking for this boat and these four men," Prindle said.