Search finds Bell still swimming

Rescue boats and two helicopters were dispatched to locate 70-year-old swimmer Jim Bell, who was later spotted yesterday morning still swimming east of Tinian beach line.

Bell, a retired U.S. Navy, informed the rescuers he wanted to continue swimming.

The incident prompted the U.S. Coast Guard in Guam to strongly recommend to the public such as in Bell’s case to file a proper float plan specifying an exact time and location for meeting.

The Coast Guard in a press statement said the plan should include a safety measure such as a small boat escort for such a great distance in place.

According to the Coast Guard this will avoid undue risk for responders and to ensure resources are available for actual distress cases.

The Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Guam received a report from Saipan Emergency Management Office Saturday night of a possible overdue swimmer.

The report indicated that Bell was dropped off at the Unai Obyan Beach on the southern tip of Saipan Saturday at 9:30am by friends.

The retired sailor was expected to call the same friends that night upon reaching Tinian after swimming the five-mile channel to reach an unspecified location on the west side of Tinian at an unspecified time.

Coast Guard began investigative calls to friends who might have know about Bell’s whereabouts on both Saipan and Tinian.

DPS then conducted land and shoreline search on Tinian.

Saturday night, two helicopters from Helicopter Combat Squadron-Two Five where launched out of Anderson Airforce in Guam.

The two helicopters conducted two 2.5 -hour searches, circling Tinian and searching the six-mile channel from Saipan to Tinian.

According to Coast Guard, yesterday morning the helicopter launched another search, while the 110-footer Coast Guard Cutter Assateague was also dispatched to assist in the search.

The helicopter and Tinian boating safety rescue boat spotted Bell yesterday at 9am, swimming inside of the east Tinian beach line.

On June 9, 2008, Bell celebrated his 70th birthday swimming the five-mile channel between Saipan and Tinian.

On July 4, 2008, he celebrated Independence Day by kicking off his swim around Saipan. He completed his last leg of swimming around the island on Sept. 20.

Bell has been practicing for his next goal—cross the Torres Strait from Papua New Guinea to the Australian mainland.