HONOLULU – The Coast Guard has suspended its search for a missing surfer in the vicinity of Sunset Beach, pending any further developments.
The Coast Guard searched for Robert Rumburg since Wednesday night along Oahu’s north shore starting 10 miles west of Kaena Point along the coastline to 29 miles east of Kahuku Point and extended searches offshore by 39 miles. Coast Guard crews covered a total of 3,155 miles.
Coast Guard crews searched with an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and a Coast Guard Auxiliary airplane, Friday. An aircrew piloting an HC-130 Hercules airplane joined the search at 10 a.m. The crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Ahi searched throughout Thursday night and all day Friday.
Robert Rumburg, from Arvada, Colorado, is 51 years old, reported to be six-foot-two, wearing black shorts and in excellent health with no medical issues.
“I would like to pass along our deepest sympathies to the Rumburg family,” said Cmdr. Steven Wheeler, Sector Honolulu search and rescue mission coordinator. “The decision to suspend is never easily made. We’ve taken all of our search data, including the probability of survival, and ultimately made the difficult decision to suspend, pending any new developments.”
The Honolulu Fire Department also assisted in the search with the use of a rescue boat, their Air One helicopter, a jet ski, divers and shoreline personnel Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Ocean Safety assisted in the search all day Thursday with a jet ski and swimmers.
Watchstanders in Sector Honolulu received initial notification at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday from a local resident, reporting a missing surfer in the vicinity of Sunset Beach. Rumburg’s surfboard was later located in the vicinity of Rocky Point.
Coast Guard and fire department assets responded and began searching Wednesday night. Coast Guard crews aboard the Ahi, a Dolphin, and a Hercules conducted numerous day and night searches Thursday and Friday.
Anyone with any information regarding Rumburg is urged to contact the Sector Honolulu command center at 808-842-2600.
