UPDATE: Coast Guard calls off search for Petal teen

The U.S. Coast Guard has called off its search for a 16-year-old from Petal who disappeared Sunday afternoon from West Ship Island.

Omar Gonzalez, 16, of Petal, was swimming with a friend when they were swept away.

"They went out on the Ship Island Excursion boat at noon," Mississippi Department of Marine Resources' Melissa Scallan said. "They were swimming off the western tip of the island.'

An unidentified 17-year-old was found Sunday evening clinging to a buoy and rescued by MDMR searchers. Gonzalez has not been seen since.

During the two day search, U.S. Coast Guard officer Rebecca Polzin said the Coast Guard has used fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and multiple boats to search 1,029 square nautical miles of the Mississippi Sound near Ship Island.

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and others are continuing the search.

"For now, we're going to keep doing what we've been doing and keep boats out there," Scallan said. "The Harrison County Sheriff's Department is going to keep a boat out there."

Scallan also said an Air National Guard airplane is involved in the operation.

"It has been two and a half days," Scallan said. "We're hopeful, but we're also realistic.

"At this point, I would say it's a recovery operation. We're going to continue searching. It's important for the family."

Contact Brian Broom at (601) 961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com. Follow The Clarion-Ledger Outdoors on Facebook and @BrianBroom on Twitter.