1 Body Found As Coast Guard Continues Search For Missing Fishing Boat

Coast Guard crews off the coast of Cape Ann have found one body and a debris field as they search for a missing fishing boat that activated a rescue signal Friday morning.

According to Coast Guard officials, rescue crews are conducting a search and rescue response after they received an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) activation from a fishing vessel 25 miles off the coast of Cape Ann at around 6:50 a.m. Friday, January 30. Coast Guard officials said the EPIRB alert is registered to the 72-foot fishing vessel Lily Jean. The total number of people aboard the vessel is unknown.

The Coast Guard attempted to contact the vessel with no response and issued an urgent marine information broadcast.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Cape Cod and a small boat crew from Station Gloucester responded to search the area. Coast Guard Cutter Thunder Bay was also diverted to assist the search.

The rescue crews located a debris field in the vicinity of the EPIRB activation. One unresponsive body was recovered from the water. A life raft associated with the vessel was found, but was unoccupied.

Search efforts are ongoing.