An angler has been missing off the North Carolina coast for nearly one week – and authorities fear the worst after his boat was discovered drifting without any sign of its owner.
Jeffrey Kale, 47, was last seen around 4 p.m. on Saturday, when left the Southport Wildlife Boat Ramp, the US Coast Guard explained.
A second round of searches was called off around 8 p.m. Thursday night, the officials announced.
Authorities had reinvigorated the rescue effort after Kale’s 32-foot Cape Hope center console boat was found on Tuesday early 83 miles off the coast of Wrightsville Beach, the Coast Guard said in a press release.
“We offer our sincere condolences to the Kale family during this difficult time,” said Cmdr. Corrie Sergent, Sector North Carolina deputy commander.
“Saving lives at sea drives our rescue crews to train and operate every single day with the hope to bring people home safely, which is why making the decision to suspend a search is truly one of the hardest things for our personnel to make and we do not take it lightly,” he added.
“We are grateful to the various Navy assets, commercial assistance, and multiple good Samaritans who have also assisted in the search.”
Over the last several days, rescue crews in the air and the sea logged about 100 combined man hours looking for Kale, the Coast Guard noted.
The effort was also aided by “multiple good Samaritan boaters,” the release stated.