Search for missing sailors continues by air and sea after volunteers find off-shore fishing bag

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COUNTY BREVARD, Fla. – The search for two missing sailors who saw their boat from Port Canaveral on Friday morning continues Tuesday and Wednesday by land and sea, after items belonging to one of the men were found miles away. off the coast of St. Augustine Monday.

The US Coast Guard announced Monday afternoon that a volunteer involved in the search for two missing sailors had found a fishing bag owned by Brian McCluney about 50 miles off the coast of St. Augustine.

Officials said McCluney and Justin Walker, both firefighters, were last seen leaving the 300 Christopher Columbus launching ramp on Friday in a 24-foot center console. heading to reef 8A.

Relatives said they alerted the Coast Guard after the men did not return home on Friday night.

"It's always absolutely a rescue mission. We are talking here about a decorated combat veterinarian. We are talking about a firefighter paramedic. These guys have the skills. He was raised in the water all his life. to survive for a long time, "said Jacksonville Fire Chief Keith Powers at a press conference Monday afternoon.

According to Powers, 135 people in 36 boats and three planes spent Monday looking for a 5,000-square-mile stretch of water from Brunswick, Georgia, to St. Augustine, Florida.

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The Coast Guard, the Navy, the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Wildlife Commission and dozens of volunteers have all sought out the couple.

The Coast Guard tweeted Monday morning that crews have conducted an estimated 24,000-mile search since Friday.

Natasha Walker, the wife of Justin Walker, must search the coast by air on Tuesday morning.

"The days are long and the nights are longer," said Stephanie McCluney, Brian McCluney's wife.

Over the weekend, the Coast Guard tweeted that she had received information about debris found near St. Augustine and a ship near Jacksonville, but that both of these alerts were false.

"No debris fields have been found anywhere, and they are convinced that it's a good thing," Stephanie said.

She added that they hoped the boat was stuck in the water somewhere and that it had still not been found.

Kevin McCluney, Brian McCluney's brother, said that if anyone was resourceful enough to survive, it would be these two men.

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"Between them, I know they've locked everything in. It's only a matter of time," said Kevin McCluney.

Stephanie McCluney said that Brian McCluney had been trained in survival since his stint in the US Navy and that Justin Walker was one of the most resourceful men she's ever known.

"If ever I was stuck somewhere, these are the two men with whom I would like to be stuck," she said.

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Families of missing sailors are asking people to continue sharing photos of the men and the boat. They are also asking volunteers to comb the nearby beaches and search for anything that may have failed on the shore, such as additional lifejackets.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Coast Guard Area Command Center in Jacksonville at 904-714-7558.

Come back and watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for live updates on this story in development.

© 2019 Cox Media Group.

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