Coast Guard crews looking for missing teen in Emerald Isle

EMERALD ISLE, NC (WWAY) — The Coast Guard suspended the search for a 17-year-old teen today who went missing in the vicinity of the 7900 block of Emerald Isle Saturday night.

The Coast Guard was notified at roughly 8 p.m. Saturday, a 17-year-old was reportedly seen entering the water and not resurfacing off Emerald Isle beach.

The Coast Guard Cutter Sheerwater, a 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water (SPC-SW) crew from Station Emerald Isle, a 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew from Station Fort Macon, and a Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City launched and searched throughout the night.

Coast Guard assets covered approximately 129 square nautical miles and searched for over 25 hours. 

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the young man,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Lance Sobel, duty watchstander at Sector North Carolina. “Making the choice to suspend a search is never an easy choice and one the Coast Guard doesn’t take lightly.”