NewsTreasure CoastRegion Indian River CountyVero Beach

Actions

Officials searching for 68-year-old missing boater from Vero Beach

Dale Allan Hossfield's vessel washes ashore on Melbourne Beach with motor running
Dale Hossfield, missing Vero Beach boater
Posted at 11:53 PM, May 18, 2022
and last updated 2022-05-19 21:14:03-04

MELBOURNE, Fla. — Officials are searching for a boater after his vessel was found in Melbourne on Wednesday evening.

Dale Allan Hossfield, 68, left his residence in Vero Beach around 10:30 a.m. to pick up his boat from dry storage in a Fort Pierce marina and has not been seen or heard from since, according to the Indian River County Sheriff's Office.

It was reported that Hossfield left from the Fort Pierce Inlet at about 2 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard then received a report at 5:45 p.m. that a 29-foot boat had washed ashore with the engines still running on Melbourne Beach.

The Coast Guard said they are using the following assets in the search:

  • Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew
  • Station Fort Pierce 45-foot response boat
  • Station Port Canaveral 45-foot response boat
  • Coast Guard Cutter Manowar boat crew
  • Coast Guard Cutter Ibis boat crew
  • Coast Guard Cutter Skipjack boat crew
  • Coast Guard Auxilary Saber-14 aircrew 

Other agencies involved in the search include the Florida Fish and Wildlife and Brevard County Sheriff's Office.

WPTV reporter Meghan McRoberts spoke with Hossfield's niece, who said the situation is incredibly strange.

She said her uncle fishes all the time and didn't have any health issues that would keep him from fishing.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of Hossfield, contact Coast Guard Miami's command center at 305-535-4472.