Coast Guard locates fisherman who went missing off Thomas island

The U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies located a missing fisherman who went fishing off St. Thomas on Thursday and did not return as expected, the service announced in a news release Friday.

The fisherman, identified as 54-year-old Conrad E. Pondt, was rescued by a Virgin Islands Police marine unit, according to the release. Pondt, a resident of the U.S. Virgin Islands, was discovered stranded on Savana Island, a nearby uninhabited sanctuary about three miles west of St. Thomas.

“Pondt had gone out from Krum Bay on a fishing trip aboard a 12-foot grey and white dinghy Thursday morning; however, he became stranded after the dinghy became disabled,” the statement said.

Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan received a call at 8:41 p.m. Thursday from the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency’s 911 operations center after a friend reported that Pondt’s vehicle and boat trailer were still parked in Krum Bay.

The marine unit found Pondt in good health but dehydrated and provided emergency medical assistance.

“We commend the Virgin Islands Police Department unit on a successful rescue and all partner agencies and rescue organizations for their efforts in the search ... The safe recovery of the survivor is a testament to the strong partnerships, seamless coordination and resolve of all responding units,” said Capt. Robert E. Stiles, Coast Guard Search and Rescue mission coordinator for the case.

Coast Guard assets, partner agencies and rescue organizations involved in the search completed four air and five surface searches covering approximately 430 square nautical miles.