GALVESTON, Texas – First responders suspended an active search Saturday evening for 17-year-old Nathan Lowery, who went missing after becoming separated from his younger brother while on an inflatable raft near the Texas City Dike, authorities said.
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What we know:
Lowery and his 16-year-old brother launched an inflatable raft into Galveston Bay around 5:30 a.m. Saturday from a point about 3 miles out on the 5-mile-long Texas City Dike, according to Texas City Emergency Management Coordinator Joe Tumbleson.
Nathan Lowery
Authorities said the brothers either jumped from or fell off the raft and became separated in the water. The Texas City Fire Department’s Marine Unit rescued the 16-year-old, who was evaluated by paramedics and found to be physically unharmed.
At about 6:15 p.m., officials transitioned the operation from a search and rescue mission to a recovery effort after a U.S. Coast Guard flight crew located the unmanned raft about 15 miles north of the dike in Trinity Bay near Baytown, Tumbleson said.
As of Saturday evening, Lowery had not been found.
Search team effort
The search included crews from the U.S. Coast Guard, Texas City Fire Department, Galveston Police Marine Division, Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens and volunteers with Texas EquuSearch.
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Most agencies suspended active operations on Saturday evening. Recovery efforts are scheduled to resume at first light Sunday, according to Tumbleson.
What they’re saying:
Texas EquuSearch has joined the Texas City Police Department and other agencies in the search.
Anyone with information about Lowery’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Texas City Police Department at (409) 948-2525 or Texas EquuSearch at (281) 309-9500.
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