Search launched for fisherman, 63, missing in waters south of Ponce

According to the authorities, Eucebio Mangual, a 63-year-old Ponce resident who went fishing this past weekend and failed to return on Sunday as planned, departed around 6 p.m. Saturday from the Ponce fishing village ramp in a 19-foot white recreational vessel named “Angel.”

By THE STAR STAFF

The U.S. Coast Guard announced Monday that it was conducting an air and sea search for fisherman Eucebio Mangual, a 63-year-old Ponce resident who went fishing on Saturday and failed to return on Sunday as planned.

Mangual departed around 6 p.m. from the Ponce fishing village ramp in a 19-foot white recreational vessel named “Angel.” His vehicle and the boat trailer were found in the facility’s parking lot.

According to information provided to authorities by the fisherman’s wife, his intended route was unknown, although he typically fished south of Caja de Muertos Island and to the east, in the Cayo Cabezos area.

The man is described as six feet tall and weighing 240 pounds. When he set out, he was wearing black swim shorts and a light gray shirt.

Participating in the search were an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen, the cutter “Joseph Doyle,” an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft and a Civil Air Patrol aircraft.

The Ponce Municipal Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the Puerto Rico Police were also assisting in the effort.

Anyone with information regarding Mangual’s whereabouts was urged to contact Coast Guard Sector San Juan at 787-289-2041.