William Ward Bleakley, a 25-year-old former University of South Florida football player, has been missing since March 1, 2009, after a fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico. Bleakley, along with three other men—Corey Smith, Victor Marquis Cooper, and Nick Schuyler—departed from Clearwater, Florida, on a 21-foot fishing boat. The group failed to return as expected, prompting a search by the Coast Guard.
The search efforts led to the discovery of Nick Schuyler on March 2, clinging to the overturned vessel. Schuyler, suffering from hypothermia and dehydration, was the sole survivor. He reported that the boat had capsized and that the other three men had disappeared one by one into the rough seas. An extensive search by the Coast Guard did not locate Bleakley, Cooper, or Smith. All three are presumed to have been lost at sea, and their bodies have never been recovered.
Bleakley was a graduate of the University of South Florida, where he played on the football team, graduating in 2006. According to Schuyler, in their final hours, Bleakley encouraged him to remain hopeful as they held onto the capsized boat. Schuyler credits Bleakley with saving his life.
Last Seen: Mar 01, 2009
