Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick File Photo
JUNEAU, Alaska — Coast Guard and Hydaburg Search and Rescue crews are searching for a 20-year-old man overdue from an 18-foot skiff near Hydaburg, Alaska, Friday.
A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, the crews of the Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick and Anacapa, and numerous Hydaburg SAR boat crews are searching for Frances Charles after he did not return from a fish camp in Eek Point, Thursday afternoon.
Coast Guard Sector Juneau Command Center watchstanders received a request for assistance from Hydaburg SAR personnel Thursday evening. They reported the skiff was found near California Island and one of their boat crews located a pair of boots in the water near the beach at Round Point on Blanket Island. Watchstanders requested the launch of the Jayhawk crew and the diversion of the cutter crews. An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued.
Charles was last seen wearing tan chest waders and a blue float coat.
“We are searching with helicopter and cutter crews in close coordination with Hydaburg SAR to locate Charles,” said Vince Grochowski, a Sector Juneau command duty officer. “We greatly appreciate the expert knowledge Hydaburg SAR crews bring to the table during our search.”
Weather on scene was reported as 51 degrees and calm.
