JAMES CITY COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a boater who went missing on York River.
Multiple agencies were scouring the river after a jon boat carrying two men overturned Tuesday afternoon near Croaker Landing. The Virginia Marine Police and Coast Guard spent the overnight hours looking for the man, hoping to find him before possible severe weather moved in Wednesday.
“People join the Coast Guard to help save lives,” said Capt. Kevin Carroll, deputy commander, Sector Hampton Roads. “But nothing can ever adequately prepare us for the days when we are not able to bring a loved one back home to their family, or to imagine the pain of their loss.”
Virginia Marine Police led the search and rescue mission. Captain Jamie Green said the biggest concern was how weather may impact the search.
One of the men, who was wearing a life jacket, was rescued by nearby boaters. He was then brought to shore and taken to the hospital, according to the Virginia Marine Police.
The other remains missing. Coast Guard officials say the 68-year-old was not wearing a life jacket.
After the emergency call came in just after 2 p.m. first responders swarmed the area around the York River State Park, with divers, boats and a Navy Sea Combat Squadron helicopter looking for any sign of the man.
Marine police were able to pull in the capsized jon boat to the Croaker Landing ramp around 5:30 p.m. The 14-foot aluminum boat, nicknamed “The Tub,” is from Dillon, South Carolina.
The Coast Guard, Navy, Virginia Marine Resources Commission, James City County Police, Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries, Port of Virginia Regional Command, Hampton Police Marine Patrol, City of Poquoson Fire and Rescue and the Gloucester Fire Department all helped with the search.
