BRUNSWICK, Ga. — The families of three missing men who never returned to Brunswick after a fishing trip on October 18 are conducting a private search. This comes less than a week after the Coast Guard called off its search on October 26.
On Wednesday, the families of Dalton Conway, Caleb Wilkinson and Tyler Barlow held 'A Day of Hope' where many gathered at Ops Pizza in Kingsland to raise funds for continued search efforts. The United Cajun Navy and Down East Emergency Medicine Institute Search and Rescue are assisting. Tyler Barlow's dad, Chris Barlow says two privately owned planes are now leading the search efforts.
"The one plane has a pilot, the copilot, and two photographers. The other one flying is kind of a specialized plane. The gentlemen who owns it actually does a lot of marine research in the area," Tyler Barlow's dad, Chris Barlow said.
The men left from Brunswick, Georgia on October 14 and were scheduled to return by October 18th, but never did. They were reported to the Coast Guard on October 20. The Coast Guard suspended its search on October 26.
As of Wednesday, the new area of interest is hundreds of miles off the coast of Nantucket.
"We decided we were just going to fly up and down the East Coast. If we are to find anything, any kind of lead, that's when the Coast Guard gets involved again," Photographer Kevin Schwartz said.
Photographer Kevin Schwartz is one of many who are helping with the search. He says he doesn't personally know the missing men but accepted the opportunity to help. Schwartz says so far, they've flown from Ocean City, Maryland down to Savannah, Georgia. The search continues Thursday about 200 miles off the coast of Nantucket.
"We're just going to be flying south. It's going to be further out in the in the East Coast, it's going to be further out in the Gulf Stream. We're going to be spending pretty much sunrise to sunset as long as we can looking for them," Schwartz said.
Barlow says there is still hope they are out there alive.
"There's absolutely zero signs that the boat sank. There's been nothing, nothing floating, no oil slicks. Absolutely no signs that they were even there," Barlow said. "If they keep pushing, the farther north, the less our chances of being able to have a successful search. They decrease every day."
Schwartz says they are searching with their eyes and analyzing footage from cameras on board.
"Tomorrow (Thursday) is going to be one of the most important days we should search," Schwartz said.
Barlow says fundraising is important and it's a race against time.
"We literally need as many planes, boats, and everything out to search in that northern area as possible," Barlow said.
The families say they are grateful for the community's support. To donate, text "CAROLANN" to 44-321.