Search continues for Collier County missing boater

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla.- The U.S. Coast Guard continues to search for a 54-year-old man who went missing after his boat went adrift while he was swimming in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday.

Robert J. Poissant’s family tells WINK News they’re holding out hope that he is still alive.

The Collier County Sheriff Office said Poissant went boating with his girlfriend in the Gulf of Mexico. They went one mile off shore off Gordon Pass when they stopped the boat and decided to go for a swim.

They both went into the water and the 21-foot boat drifted away from them. They tried swimming back to the boat but were unable to reach it. Poissant’s girlfriend Sheila lost sight of him in the water around 5 p.m.

“He asked me to swim to the boat cause I could swim faster,” said Sheila.

During a vigil Sunday night Sheila said she swam for four hours before she made it to shore at Keewaydin Island and was able to get help.

“I lost my best friend,” said Sheila.

“I feel like he is probably alive, most definitely because he knows the water so well and he knows how to survive,” said Kaitlynn O’Brien, Sheila’s daughter.

O’Brien says she considers Poissant to be her father. She says Poissant is an avid boater, “he actually worked on the water every day, so he was with boats a lot, and he loved going out and he just loved the breeze and everything.”

The Naples Fire Department, CCSO, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the U.S. Coast Guard conducted a search for approximately six hours on Sunday before the search was suspended for the night.

Chief Stephen McInerny says boaters should always keep a few things in mind.

“Bad things can happen very, very quickly. Safety has to be first and foremost on everyone’s mind. You have to have a plan and you really have to be guarded and vigilant at all times.”

The boat was located adrift 3 1/2 miles from shore off Gordon Pass but Poissant was not located. Poissant is described as white, 6 feet tall and 190 pounds with a shaved head and brown eyes.

Deputies said there are no signs of foul play at this time.