Cozumel, Q.R. — The search for a missing American cruise ship passenger has officially intensified to include both air and ground.
The Seguridad Ciudadana Cozumel (SCC) of Cozumel said Thursday that the Directorate of Public Security of Cozumel, in collaboration with the Secretary of the Navy and Civil Protection Cozumel, continues with search and rescue efforts to locate the American man reported missing on the Island of Cozumel.
An intensified search that now includes land, air and sea began early Thursday morning. American Brad Solomon, 66, was reported missing by his family Wednesday afternoon during a cruise ship excursion to the island of Cozumel.
According to his sister, he suffers from advanced dementia and wears a GPS device in the form of a necklace around his neck.
On Wednesday night, a Cozumel taxi driver reported that he drove a man matching that description to a dirt road in the Isla de la Pasión area of the island of Cozumel where he asked to be dropped off.
State Civil Protection activated a search operation to locate the missing man but have not yet found him. Search and rescue personnel started in the Isla de la Pasión area Thursday morning.
That search was expanded to include all the beaches and businesses in the northern hotel zone including hotels, condominiums, beach clubs and restaurants. Rescue personnel have also combed 1.3 kilometers of deep jungle heading toward the center of the island.
Water patrols were also under way with a Civil Protection jetski, while a state helicopter was used to scour the sea and coast from above. Additionally, video surveillance monitoring is being carried out from Security Complex C5 to help locate him.
Brad Solomon disembarked from the Icon of the Seas cruise ship Wednesday. His family has posted help requests on social media pointing out that he has no phone or money.
