(CMR) The family of missing boater Douglas Omar Hurlston is asking for help with fuel in order to continue the search and rescue efforts. Hurlston, age 42, remains missing after taking a recent trip to Swan Islands. Ironically, alongside his disappearance, 16 Cuban migrants arrived at Swan Islands before being transported to the Guanaja sector in Honduras.
The men took a second boat called the Brenda J from Swan Island to Guanaja, leaving many to question how they allegedly arrived from Grand Cayman to Swan Islands. Some are speculating that they may have hitched a ride with Hurlston, which explains the timing of the parties at the same location. However, he has not yet returned to the Cayman Islands and remains missing.
Local authorities are investigating if the men that arrived in Honduras are actually migrants who were in Grand Cayman. They expect official confirmation in the coming days from Honduran officials. There have been no reports of any stolen vessels in the Cayman Islands. Honduras media confirmed the arrival of the 16 Cubans early Thursday morning.
The fundraiser flyer for Hurlston indicates that deposits can be made to a CIBC First Caribbean bank account. CMR understood that two boats were sent out to assist in locating the missing man. He has not been seen since Tuesday after getting some fuel on Swan Islands. Sources shared that they had one 200hp outboard engine and a 15hp backup.
One well-placed sourced note that he could only get 10 gallons of gas which means that he only had about 40 gallons total. It is 121 miles from Swan Islands to Bonacca. This source also shared that local sources indicated that it is believed that Hurlston may have been returning to Cayman at that time. These unofficial sources indicated that there appears to be some confusion about how many Cubans may have left the Cayman Islands.
They shared that:
“It is believed that thirteen Cubans recently left the Cayman Islands. The Brenda J was at Swan Islands when Hurlston got there on Tuesday and needed gas. They offered to tow him, but he refused and instead took some gas from them. When he couldn't get enough gas, ten Cubans got off, and he left with the remaining three. This boat took those them to Bonacca yesterday”.
Sources also revealed there was no official record of his departure with authorities in the Cayman Islands.
Despite these figures, Honduran media said that “preliminary information is available on the arrival of a boat with at least 16 Cubans.”
Hurlston's family expressed their dismay about the lack of a proper search by authorities on social media, stating that:
Despite this, they remain hopeful that he may have drifted and has will be picked up by a passing vessel that can render him some assistance to return safely home to his family.
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