The Coast Guard suspended its search Wednesday night for a missing boater near Cape Lookout. The man sent out a distress call Tuesday night saying that his 22-foot Bayliner was taking on water. He said his plan was to put on his life vest, gather some supplies and swim about 200 yards to shore.
Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill says it appears the unidentified boater was well prepared in the event of trouble
"Having a life jacket is one of the most important things to help keep that person above the water and prevent them from drowning," says Hill.
"There also was, on the call, some mention of having flares so it did sound like what he was reporting was that he had other equipment; survival equipment that we would recommend that mariners have."
The Coast Guard says the nine-hour search covered 90 square nautical miles. National Park personnel and a Marine Corps helicopter crew assisted in the search.
A news release did not indicate if the effort to find the missing boater would continue Thursday morning.
