WILMINGTON, N.C. — The Coast Guard suspended its search Saturday for two boaters reported overdue near Oak Island, North Carolina, last Sunday.
The men’s capsized boat was discovered Friday by a Coast Guard C-130 Super Hercules aircraft crew from Air Station Elizabeth City 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 Country, 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.”
