TAMPA – The Coast Guard searched the Gulf of Mexico for a second day yesterday for an 18-year-old from Louisiana who fell overboard during a cruise to celebrate his high school graduation.
The Coast Guard said Bruce O’Krepki went over the rails of the Carnival Fantasy on Sunday night about 150 miles southwest of Tampa.
O’Krepki recently graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Hammond, Louisiana., where he ran track and played soccer. He was with about 35 classmates on the ship. His uncle Rick O’Krepki said the teen’s parents were among the chaperones on the cruise.
The ship had left New Orleans and was en route to Key West.
‘We hope people are keeping Bruce in their thoughts and prayers,’ Rick O’Krepki said.
Bruce O’Krepki’s soccer coach John Cox described the teen as someone who was connected to the community and his family.
‘It’s a huge burden for the community,’ Cox said. – Nampa-AP
In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.
The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
