A St. Thomas fisherman reported missing Thursday night was rescued Friday morning from Savana Island by the V.I. Police Department’s marine unit, the Coast Guard reported.
A concerned friend called 911 Thursday around 8:41 p.m. when Conrad E. Pondt, 54, failed to return from a fishing trip after departing from Krum Bay that morning aboard a 12-foot gray and white dinghy, according to the Coast Guard. The friend told officials that Pondt would usually go fishing at Mermaid’s Chair, Flat Cays, or Frenchman’s Bay and that his vehicle and boat trailer were still at a parking lot in Krum Bay.
Multiple agencies began searching for Pondt, who was found on Savana Island Friday morning where he reportedly became stranded after his dinghy became disabled, Coast Guard Public Information Officer Ricardo Castrodad told the Source. Following the rescue, Pondt received assistance from responding Emergency Medical Service personnel after he was found to be dehydrated, but was otherwise in good health.
“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,” said Capt. Robert E. Stiles, Coast Guard Search and Rescue mission coordinator for this case. “It was a great outcome! Our Sector Command Center staff did an exceptional job managing this case from the initial report through the rescue. The safe recovery of the survivor is a testament to the strong partnerships, seamless coordination, and resolve of all responding units.”
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, according to a report of the incident. The effort included an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen; Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Doyle; Boat Forces Unit St. Thomas 33-foot Special Purpose Craft; Customs and Border Protection Caribbean Air and Marine helicopter and a marine unit; Civil Air Patrol aircraft; Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency; St Thomas Rescue; and the VIPD.
