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Coast Guard Suspends Delta Search For Missing Fisherman

OAKLEY (BCN) -- The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search on Sunday for a man who apparently fell overboard while fishing alone in Big Break near Oakley Friday afternoon.

The Coast Guard, along with divers from the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Marine Unit and a helicopter, searched for San Francisco man Harry Lee, 51, after a Good Samaritan spotted Lee's 20-foot recreational fishing boat adrift in the Delta with no one on board at 2:16 p.m., according to the Coast Guard.

The keys were still in the ignition and the engine was off.

Though the Coast Guard suspended its search Saturday at 10:37 p.m., the marine unit continued the search for Lee at 8 a.m. Sunday.

The search for Lee spanned approximately 46 nautical miles, the Coast Guard reported.

Lee is thought to have been wearing a manual lifejacket that must be inflated using a pull string.

A Coast Guard official said Saturday that it is unlikely that Lee inflated his lifejacket.

The Coast Guard recommends that boaters wear lifejackets that inflate upon contact with water.

(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report)

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