Search suspended for man overboard from Seattle vessel

By Associated Press

Summary

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search in Alaska's Aleutian Islands for a man reported overboard from a Seattle-based commercial fishing vessel.

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Story Published: Jul 5, 2009 at 2:43 PM PST

Story Updated: Jul 5, 2009 at 2:43 PM PST

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search in Alaska's Aleutian Islands for a man reported overboard from a Seattle-based commercial fishing vessel.

The search for 38-year-old Nhial Opiew was called off early Sunday.

The Coast Guard says it got a call from the Seattle-based trawler Rebecca Irene Saturday morning that the man fell overboard 24 miles southeast of Umnak Island.

Searchers say they were hampered by low visibility.

The crew of the Rebecca Irene and two other vessels also searched and the Coast Guard says the combined efforts covered more than 100 square miles.