William Bleakley will be remembered as a brave soul who did everything in power to save one another.

Family and Friends of one of three men missing off the coast of Clearwater, gathered on Saturday at Crystal River United Methodist Church to remember former USF football player Will Bleakley.

Following the U.S. Coast guard search family and friends of one of the missing men Marquis Cooper began their search under the direction of Dallas Cowboy’s Terry ‘Tank’ Johnson.  Their search ended on Friday after the only surviving boater 26 year old Nick Schuyler who remains in a Tampa Hospital, was able to describe in more detail on how the remaining men just “slipped away.”

Hundreds gather at memorial service for Will Bleakley

Nick Schuyler gave Bleakley the credit for his survival and in a statement made by Bleakley’s dad he said:

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Survivors Father Stu Schuyler Talks (Archive)

Posted by:  BBParks

• Friends and Family Search For Missing Boaters [LINK]
• Missing Boater William Bleakley [LINK]
• Coast Guard Press Release (VIDEO) [LINK]

Survivor Nick Schuyler to appear on Oprah Today

Survivors Father Stu Schuyler Talks

It’s been a little over a week since the tragedy at sea occurred which has changed the lives of many and left family members of the three victims lost at sea still asking why.  Two NFL football players and a former University of South Florida Will Bleakley lost their lives in what was suppose to be just an ordinary fishing venture.

Nick Schuyler talks about tragic boat accident on the ‘Today’ show‎ -

Survivor Nick Schuyler, was found by the U.S. Coast Guard 46 hours after the 21 foot boat capsized.  Coast Guard rescue teams spotted Schyuler sitting on top of the boat.  He suffered from dehydration, hypothermia, and slight kidney and muscle damage.   He was taken to a Tampa Hospital in critical condition where he remained for several days.  He has since been released and although his physical wounds are healing, his emotional well being is a concern to many.  Schuyler who gave credit to friend and former USF teammate Will Blakely, whose life was cut short as a result of the tragedy,  for saving his life.  He called Bleakley a “true hero.”    Continue Reading

Boating accident survivor Nick Schuyler shares awful details

*Posted by:  BBParks

*Related Stories:

• Private Search For Missing Boaters Begins [LINK]
• Boaters Found Strength and Friendship at LA Fitness [LINK]
• Friends and Family Search For Missing Boaters [LINK]
• Missing Boater William Bleakley [LINK]
• Coast Guard Press Release (VIDEO) [LINK]

William Bleakley will be remembered as a brave soul who did everything in power to save one another.

Family and Friends of one of three men missing off the coast of Clearwater, gathered on Saturday at Crystal River United Methodist Church to remember former USF football player Will Bleakley.

Following the U.S. Coast guard search family and friends of one of the missing men Marquis Cooper began their search under the direction of Dallas Cowboy’s Terry ‘Tank’ Johnson.  Their search ended on Friday after the only surviving boater 26 year old Nick Schuyler who remains in a Tampa Hospital, was able to describe in more detail on how the remaining men just “slipped away.”

Nick Schuyler gave Bleakley the credit for his survival and in a statement made by Bleakley’s dad he said:

“Nick said to me that he would not be alive today if Will hadn’t been on the boat,” Bleakley said. “His mother and his older brother and myself felt and knew this all along. When Nick said it, we were proud and relieved.”

Bleakley said Schuyler told him: “Will stayed with me for 36 hours and was in my grasp when he lost consciousness and died.”

Bleakley said his son, “delirious and vomiting, succumbed to hypothermia and dehydration, and to the cold and the pounding of relentless waves.”

A memorial fund has been established in Bleakley’s honor. Contributions can be made to the Will Bleakley Memorial Fund, c/o Mercantile Bank, 1000 U.S. 19 S.E., Crystal River FL 34429.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and famlies of the three men who were lost at sea.

Posted by:  BBParks

• Friends and Family Search For Missing Boaters [LINK]
• Missing Boater William Bleakley [LINK]
• Coast Guard Press Release (VIDEO) [LINK]

Authorities announced late Tuesday afternoon that they were suspending their search for remaining  three men NFL’s Corey Smith and Marcus Cooper along with their friend Will Bleakley who went out last Saturday off the coast of Clearwater to fish and  encountered bad weather, the rough seas caused the fishing boat they were on capsized.  One of the four men former USF Football player Nick Schuyler was rescued on Monday.  He remains in a Tampa Hospital and is said to be improving.

Although the Coast Guard stopped searching friends and family members headed out into the gulf early this morning in a dozen chartered boats along with several airplanes to begin their search.  The search efforts are headed by Terry ‘Tank” Johnson, of the Dallas Cowboys who is a former teammate and close friend of  Marcus Cooper.  Johnson refuses to give up.  In a statement Johnson spoke of his friend and said:  “He’s waiting for us to come and get him. We are going to do our best.”  These words rang the ship bells today in hopes of bringing these men back to their loved ones.

“They understand the decision of the Coast Guard and yet they want to keep some hope alive!”

Johnson is asking “anyone has ounce of time to please contact nflsearchandrescue@gmail.com to help in this search. Everyone is pulling together to find these three men. Let’s work together as a team!”

Contact Tank today - nflsearchandrescue@gmail.com

Monetary Donations are being accepted contact: Pastor Hal Mayer of the Church of the Bay in Tampa. His blog can be found at halmayer.blogspot.com.

Posted by:  BBParks

Related Articles:

• Friends and Family Search For Missing Boaters [LINK]
• Missing Boater William Bleakley [LINK]
• Coast Guard Press Release (VIDEO) [LINK]

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended their search for the three missing men Corey Smith, Marquis Cooper and Will Bleakley who vanished off the coast of Clearwater after their fishing boat overturned on Feb. 28, sometime around 5 p.m.

Nick Schuyler who was rescued on Monday remains in the hospital.  Schuyler who is being treated for hypothermia and dehydration has been unable to give clear details however did say that they were anchored out in the Gulf when a huge wave turned the fishing vessel over.

At about 3 p.m. yesterday, a life jacket and a cooler were found about 16 miles southeast of where the boat and Schuyler were located.  Captain Timothy Close, the Coast Guard commander in St. Petersburg, Florida, said. At sunset, the search was called off.

The father of one of the missing NFL players Marquis Cooper, and his friend, Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Terry “Tank” Johnson, have organized their own search which will begin at sunrise today.  In a statement Johnson said:  “What we’re asking for is experienced aviation pilots” to volunteer for the mission, Johnson said. “We are looking only for experienced pilots … we don’t want another tragedy as we are said he

Johnson had spoken to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and that “we have the support of the entire NFL” in continuing the search.

Posted by:  BBParks

*More of this story at CNN

*NFL.com [LINK]

According to the US Coast Guard: BREAKING NEWS

One of four men who went missing off the Clearwater Florida Gulf coast Saturday has been rescued. Nick Schuyler former USF player was found clinging to the overturned vessel according to the Coast Guard. Three others, including two NFL players, are still missing While being rescued Schuyler did tell authorities that they were all wearing life jackets.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to the remaining three and their families however, we now have a glimmer of hope that they all will be found safe.