SABINE PASS — U.S. Coast Guard crews continue searching the waters off Sabine Pass for a missing diver.
Alfred Charles Lensing, 65, of Nederland, was diving and spear fishing near an oil rig about 75 miles off the coast when he did not resurface Wednesday night. The U.S. Coast Guard received a distress signal Wednesday evening from a 22-foot pleasure craft that was tied to the rig.
Lensing's 23-year-old nephew was fishing alongside him when he reported his uncle's disappearance.
Coast Guard Cutter Pompano, one of the crews continuously searching for Lensing, made its second trip out Thursday afternoon following an 11-hour effort Wednesday night.
Commanding officer of the vessel Barrett Johannsen says "We'll go out there for as long as they need us out there. This is what we do, this is what we signed up for."
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This is a developing story. We will update with more as soon as we receive confirmed information.
From a U.S. Coast Guard news release...
HOUSTON — The Coast Guard is searching for a missing diver 75 miles south of Sabine Pass, Texas, Thursday.
Missing is 65 year-old Alfred Charles Lensing.
Eighth Coast Guard District watchstanders received an emergency position indicating radio beacon signal Wednesday evening from a 22-foot pleasure craft tied to an oil rig.
Watchstanders contacted the person on the vessel who activated the EPIRB and learned that a second person on the vessel had gone spear fishing but did not resurface.
Involved in the search are:
• Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew
• Air Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew
• Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin aircrew
• Coast Guard Cutter Beluga crew
• Coast Guard Cutter Pompano crew