In the early morning hours of July 2, 2010, a 54-year-old man named Bobby Linwood Barbers, affectionately known as 'Pops,' went missing from the fishing boat he worked on, the Gallant Fox. The vessel was in the Oregon Inlet, about 30 miles off the coast of North Carolina, when the incident occurred. Mr. Barbers, a Black male with black hair, brown eyes, and a full, graying beard, was on watch when a fellow crewmember went to relieve him and discovered he was nowhere to be found.
It was around 5 a.m. when the U.S. Coast Guard received the distressing call that a crewman had fallen overboard. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a black short-sleeved t-shirt and denim shorts and, tragically, was not wearing a life jacket.
The conditions at the time were noted, with an air temperature of 72 degrees and a water temperature of approximately 82 degrees. Upon receiving the call, the Coast Guard launched an extensive search and rescue operation. The effort involved multiple assets, including a rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Oregon Inlet, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Cochito, a C-130 aircrew, and a HH-60T Jayhawk rescue helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City. These dedicated teams scoured the waters in a desperate attempt to locate Mr. Barbers.
Despite the comprehensive search efforts, no trace of Bobby Barbers was ever found. The search was suspended the following day, and he is presumed to be lost at sea. The case serves as a somber reminder of the perils faced by those who work on the open water. The sudden and unexplained nature of his disappearance has left a lasting impact on those who knew him and the maritime community. The investigation into the disappearance of Bobby Linwood Barbers remains a painful and unresolved event, highlighting the unforgiving nature of the sea and the profound loss experienced by his loved ones.Last Seen: Jul 2, 2010
