Missing FIU Researchers Found By Park Service Searchers

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- The U.S. Coast Guard has found the three missing researchers from FIU who were reported overdue in Everglades National Park.

"I am very tired and ready to go home," said FIU Researcher Peter Regier.

Reiger told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "We went out on a sampling trip and we went out and got close to the Gulf of Mexico. We broke down. We had some engine trouble. We had difficulty with our radio and we were not able to get ahold of anyone s we spent the night out there and got picked up by the park service."

"We were prepared. We had our emergency equipment and we had our food and water," Reiger said. "It was really unfortunate what happened but it was out of our control and we took care and did the best that we could. What I was thinking out there was when we were going to get picked up."

The Coast Guard said Reiger and the researchers were due back by 3 p.m. Wednesday at Flamingo Marina but did not return.

Tony Terry, a park ranger, said the group was doing research, looking for water samples in Shark River and had left the Flamingo Marina at 8 a.m. Wednesday. They planned to go to Tarpon Bay and developed problems with the boat at 10 a.m.

Terry said the Park Service started searching at 4 p.m. and stopped searching at 8:15 p.m. when a storm developed.

He said the Coast Guard was also involved with the search and launched a helicopter.

He said FWC and Collier County also assisted and at 8:50 a.m.  on Thursday, the Park Service found them and spent two hours towing their boat to the Marina.

"They were happy to see us and we were happy to see them," Terry said. "This is our job. I am always happy when it comes out to a good ending. I feel like we are doing our job."

"They had a VHF radio but out there the only thing working would have been a park radio or a satellite phone and they did not have that," he added.

The researchers were greeted at the Marina by FIU Chemistry professor Piero Gardinali who said, "We are prepared for this. We prepare every day. Our research is very important. We do this every day. STUFF happens and the guys break down. So we are happy everything worked out. Peter's research is important to us. We are grateful to the Park Service and the Coast Guard for bringing them back."

FIU Said the two graduate students and international researcher from China had last been seen in a 21-foot Mako in Whitewater Bay.

"Two of the researchers are Ph.D. candidates in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education. The third is a visiting scientist from China," said Michael Heithaus, Dean of the school's College of Arts, Sciences & Education. "They are conducting research on water chemistry in specific areas near the estuary, as part of a long-term Everglades research project. This group is highly trained and has experience working in this area."

The Coast Guard said they were notified around 8 p.m. that the students hadn't returned. They immediately launched a search along with National Park Service workers.

"These students are very fortunate to have been found safely with no reported medical concerns," said Cmdr. Clint Prindle, response chief at Coast Guard Sector Key West. "This case highlights the effectiveness of having a float plan that likely saved these researches from a dangerous situation."