Rescuers: Wisconsin Man Among the Missing

3/12/12 – The Coast Guard says a Wisconsin man and three others are unlikely to be alive, after they were missing from a fishing boat off the coast of Washington State. Rescuers suspended a search yesterday for 25-year-old Chris Langel of Kaukauna, 22-year-old Luke Jensen of Ilwaco Washington, and two Oregon men – 42-year-old Dave Nichols and 38-year-old Jason Bjaranson. The 70-foot Lady Cecelia sent a distress signal early Saturday. A beacon led crews to an empty lifeboat, a field of debris, and an oil sheen a few miles off the Washington coast. There was no word on what type of debris was found, or if the vessel was still intact. The lifeboat that was found did not have identifying marks – but officials said it was probably from the Lady Cecelia. Coast Guard Petty Officer Shawn Eggert said the search for the men covered 640 square miles, and it lasted quote, “far beyond what the capacity of somebody to survive in these conditions might be.” Rescuers encountered moderate waves but there were not stormy conditions. The water temperature was 43 degrees when the boat went missing. Langel was on board to monitor the fish caught by the others. He was employed by Saltwater Incorporated, which has an office in Seattle.