Coast Guard suspends search for 20-year-old man near Hydaburg, Alaska

Coast Guard suspends search for 20-year-old man near Hydaburg, Alaska

JUNEAU, Alaska- The Coast Guard suspended the search for a 20-year-old man overdue from an 18-foot skiff near Hydaburg, Alaska, Saturday.

A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, the crews of the Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick and Anacapa, and multiple Hydaburg SAR boat crews searched more than 40 hours for Frances Charles after he did not return from a fish camp in Eek Point, Thursday afternoon.

Coast Guard Sector Juneau Command Center watchstanders received a request for assistance from Hydaburg SAR personnel Thursday evening. They reported the skiff was found near California Island and one of their boat crews located a pair of boots in the water near the beach at Round Point on Blanket Island. Watchstanders requested the launch of the Jayhawk crew and the diversion of the cutter crews. An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued.

“Coast Guard search and rescue crews covered more than 180 square miles in their attempt to find Charles,” said Nicholas Meyer, a Sector Juneau command duty officer.

"We search for every missing person as if we were searching for our own,” said Capt. Shannan Greene. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends."