Coast Guard Calls Off Search for Missing Boater

A 19-year-old boater went missing from his vessel in the Jacksonville area Thursday. After investing hundreds of man-hours looking for him, the U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search.

ActionNewsJax.com reports that the victim, Michael Vaughn III, had been sailing alone in a 30-foot commercial fishing vessel when locals noticed the vessel running in circles and apparently unattended. The Coast Guard dispatched a 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew to investigate, which was later joined by additional Coast Guard assets including an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter.

U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Florida Fish and Wildlife, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue, also joined in the search.

After conducting a thorough search and not having located Vaughn, the Coast Guard suspended the search Friday.

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