UPDATE: Search suspended for missing boater

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WPDE-TV) — The search for a missing North Carolina fisherman who has been missing off the Grand Strand coast since Thursday, has been suspended. Crews spent the Saturday in the air and on water searching for Thomas “Andy” Richmond, 55, of Ocean Isle Beach.

His boat washed ashore in Myrtle Beach with the engine running late Thursday night. Richmond’s wife told authorities he left from Shallotte inlet alone on the boat, around 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

The search was suspended at 9 p.m. Saturday and US Coast Guard officials tell WPDE-TV in Myrtle Beach they have no plans to resume unless they receive a tip or a report of a sighting.

US Coast Guard officials say the boat had plenty of gas in the tank and safety equipment was on board when it came ashore. A tracking device showed the boat had traveled 167 miles before washing up.