Coast Guard suspends search for missing North Carolina boaters

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 09/03/2017 12:29 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

Sept. 3, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Jacksonville
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Jacksonville
Office: (904) 714-7606/7607
After Hours: (305) 318-1864

Coast Guard suspends search for missing NC boaters

CHARLESTON, N.C. — The Coast Guard suspended its search Saturday for two boaters reported overdue near Oak Island, North Carolina, last Sunday.

The boater's capsized vessel was discovered Friday by a Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130J Hercules search plane crew approximately 15 miles east of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.

The Coast Guard, Navy and other agencies searched 33,154 miles for 247 hours off the North and South Carolina coasts, but neither Steve Chaney nor David Hambrick of Gaston County, North Carolina, have been located. 

"After an exhaustive search on the water and from the air over the past week, we made the difficult decision to stop searching on Saturday evening," said Rear Adm. Meredith Austin, commander, 5th Coast Guard District. "We have been in close contact with the families, and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time."

For previous releases about the search, please visit:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/1b3a065

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/1b44f0a

 

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-USCG-