MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. – Coast Guard Sector North Carolina has closed the case for Ernest Aguayo, Jr., after he was located on the east side of Cape Lookout, N.C., Thursday.
Wednesday evening Aguayo beached his boat on Cape Lookout and began walking. At 5:23 a.m. Thursday morning, Coast Guard Sector North Carolina was notified by Aguayo’s wife reporting he called her via cell phone.
Although Aguayo was prepared with life jacket, flares, food and water, he had not filed a complete float plan before leaving and lacked any electronic navigational equipment. Aguayo stated he became disoriented in rough seas when the hand held compass he was using for navigation malfunctioned.
After beaching his vessel Aguayo was picked up by a Cape Lookout Park Ranger on an ATV.
The search for Aguayo began at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday and involved search crews from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., Coast Guard Station Fort Macon N.C., and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C.
