An updated article from
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Search for missing diver suspended
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By Ryan Bray
GateHouse News Service
Thu Sep 06, 2007, 11:06 AM EDT
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Scituate -
The Coast Guard has suspended its search of a 29-year old man who has been reported missing since Saturday afternoon and is presumed dead.
According to a release from the Coast Guard, Timothy Ericson was reported missing to the Scituate harbormasters office, which called the Coast Guard for assistance in a search Saturday afternoon. The report stated that Ericson had been scuba diving while looking for lobster off of a recreational boat when passengers lost track of him about a quarter-mile south of New Inlet near Scituate.
Ericson, an electrician and father of two, was last seen Saturday afternoon when he dove off a 28-foot boat near Fourth Cliff. He had a flag attached to him by a rope so that his spotters could see where he was in the water. His brother Dennis and two friends watched his air bubbles come to the surface, but after about 15 minutes, Dennis said they noticed the bubbles stopped. They pulled on the line but it was no longer attached to Ericson.
It was just another ordinary day, Dennis Ericson said. We went out, got him suited up. He just said, This is one of my good spots I always go down.
The Coast Guard conducted seven surface searches over 50 square miles from 3 p.m. until shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday before suspending the search. The Massachusetts State Police dive team, Massachusetts Environmental Police, the Marshfield and Scituate harbormaster offices and the Scituate Fire Department dive team all assisted in the rescue efforts.
"This has truly been a cooperative search effort involving numerous state and local agencies. The local support was a real asset in this case and we appreciate all the time and effort of all who assisted in the search," said Lt. William Houde, Coast Guard Sector Boston duty officer, in the release.
Marshfield Harbormaster Mike DiMeo said water conditions were rough, as the current was strong and there was an unusually high tide. When Ericson dove, the tide was going out.
Its very hard to dive in that kind of current, DiMeo said. With the extra current, he couldve been swept out to sea.
But Ericsons brother said it was a typical dive. Ericson was a certified diver, and his friend and co-worker Keith Fuller said he dove in that same spot many times.
It wasnt uncommon for Tim to dive by himself, Fuller said. He had hundreds of dives under his belt. He loved the sport. Crazy things happen. He was just a go-getter, always doing what he wanted to do. He loved it.
Petty Officer Etta Smith said Coast Guard officials have reason to believe Ericson is from Marshfield, but that has yet to be confirmed. He attended Marshfield schools before enrolling at South Shore Vocational-Technical School.
The search is one of a series the Coast Guard has been involved in since Labor Day weekend. A Wellfleet resident who was reported missing while riding his jet ski was found in Eastham after a two-hour search Saturday night, while another jet skier who was reported lost near Plum Island was found early Sunday morning.
Another search for an off-duty Coast Guard employee who fell overboard his vessel in the Fore River in Maine has been suspended.
Smith said the search for Ericson would remain suspended pending further evidence supporting that he may still be alive.
Weve stopped an active search until we receive any further active reports, Smith said.
