Date: Aug. 11, 2008

Contact: Petty Officer Bill Colclough
(216) 902-6020 office
(216) 310-2608 cell

 COAST GUARD SEARCHES FOR SWIMMER

MARQUETTE, Mich. -  Coast Guard Station Marquette and Coast Guard Air Facility Muskegon commenced a search Sunday at approximately 4:45 p.m. for 28-year-old Robert Denman, who became missing offshore near the Picnic Rocks in Marquete Bay.

"He went swimming with a friend off-shore from Shiras Park; when his friend looked back, he wasn't there," said Operations Specilaist 2nd Class James Coppola, Operations Duty Officer, Sector Sault Ste. Marie.

The friend notified authorities by 911 when he reached shore. 

A Station Marquette 30-foot small boat crew and an HH-65C rescue helicopter crew have been conducting a parallel search for approximately 16 hours to locate the Marquette, Mich. native.

The Marquette County Sheriff's Dept. rescued one other person swimming near Picnic Rocks Sunday, who was washed out into the bay at approximately the same time as Denman and his friend.

The Coast Guard recommends both boaters and anyone recreating on the lakes to always wear a life jacket, and tell a family member or friend where they are going and when they will return.