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Here’s what we know about this photo that sparked renewed hope in search for missing boaters

A photo posted by the boaters' families on Facebook led volunteers to walk Crescent Beach shores Monday. Here's what we know.

BRUNSWICK, Ga. — * The above video forecast is from Tuesday, Nov. 21.

It has been 38 days since Dalton Conway, Caleb Wilkinson and Tyler Barlow vanished off the coast of Brunswick in their fishing boat, the Carol Ann.

Though the Coast Guard ended its official search, the families have continued their own search, with volunteers on the ground, in the sea and in the air. Search efforts have spanned more than 90,000 square miles. A new photo - showing a pink mass in the sea - posted to Facebook Monday drew volunteers to the shores of Crescent Beach. 

Here's what we know.

The Cajun Navy, a volunteer group which assists in search-and-rescue efforts, took the photo. The organization confirmed Tuesday that one of their pilots took the photo.

The photo was taken somewhere between Matanzas Inlet and Ocean Side South to Flagler Beach.

The family called the photo a "possible life raft." The United States Coast Guard was notified of the photo and spoke to the pilot who took it. 

Tuesday, the Coast Guard told First Coast News the object seen in the photo could not be bigger than a life vest.

The debris seen in the photo has not been confirmed to have a connection to the Carol Ann. However, a fish box matching the one aboard the Carol Ann was found 18 miles northeast of the St. Augustine inlet Sunday.

Family members and volunteers continue searching Crescent Beach Tuesday, hoping that the debris seen in the photo will wash ashore.

Credit: Family
This photo was taken near St. Augustine by a Cajun Navy pilot on Monday, Nov. 20, 37 days after three boaters disappeared from Brunswick.

‼️‼️‼️URGENT ‼️‼️‼️ We need boats, planes and beach walkers out searching Matanzas Inlet inshore and Ocean Side south...

Posted by Bring Our Boys Home on Monday, November 20, 2023

    

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