The Key West maritime and diving community lost one of its own this week, when local diver Tommy Faulkenberry, 44, went missing during an Aug. 2 dive at the Vandenberg shipwreck, about seven miles off Key West.
The Coast Guard’s search for Faulkenberry lasted until Aug. 7, when it was officially suspended. Faulkenberry was never found, despite a search that encompassed 4,300 square nautical miles, an area about the size of Connecticut, states a Coast Guard briefing.
“This was a tragic accident. Diving is an inherently dangerous activity. Mr. Faulkenberry’s passion for the sea is well remembered by the dive community here in the Keys and my deepest condolences are with his family at this difficult time,” said Lt. Christopher Papas, inspections division chief, USCG Sector Key West.
Crewmembers aboard the vessel Dream Cat contacted Coast Guard Sector Key West on Aug. 2, reporting one of their divers overdue from a morning dive to the site of the USS Vandenberg shipwreck.
The search included vessels and aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Miami, Coast Guard Station Key West, Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell, Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous, Coast Guard Cutter Kathleen Moore, United State Navy, Florida Army National Guard, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as well as teams of volunteer divers organized through the Organized Civilian Search and Rescue Team.
Faulkenberry’s brother, Weston, provided regular search updates via Facebook, and posted a video on Aug. 7 saying the search had been called off.
“At 9:10 a.m. Monday, the Coast Guard officially suspended the search. This means that Tommy likely will never be found,” Weston Faulkenberry said in a Facebook video. “If you know Tommy, if he loved you, then he has told you that when he died, he wanted to become part of a reef. He loved the ocean and loved everything about it, and so God has placed Tommy exactly where God needed him and where Tommy wanted to be.”
Weston Faulkenberry thanked and commended the Coast Guard and other agencies for the search that he called “absolutely amazing and impressive.”
“I ask you not to mourn. I ask you to respect the family’s privacy. And I ask you to know that Tommy would have wanted this. This is where he wanted to be. He is finally at peace in the biggest asset that our Earth has. No matter where you go in the world, Tommy will be there.
I’m so thankful for everyone, the Coast Guard, the Navy, U.S. Army Special Forces and the great Key West guerrilla force down here. And I’m so thankful for everyone far away who has donated and shown love and support. Now, every time we see the ocean, we will see Tommy because he’s where he needs to be. Poseidon has gained a new warrior and I’m so thankful to him for protecting us,” Weston Faulkenberry said.
A celebration of his life will take place Thursday, Aug. 10 at the VFW in Key West from 7 to 9 p.m.
Two GoFundMe accounts have been established to help Faulkenberry’s wife, Lucy, and his four sons.
To donate to Tommy’s four sons directly, see the GoFundme run by Beth Faulkenberry at https://gofund.me/6c354b3e
To donate to Tommy’s wife, Lucy, directly, see the GoFundMe run by Andrew Lourake at https://gofund.me/b64353fd
Anyone with information pertaining to the whereabouts of Thomas Faulkenberry is asked to contact the Coast Guard Sector Key West command center at 305-292-8727.
