Missing Middletown Man Found Safe at Sea, Mother Still Missing

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A week after being reported missing at sea, Middletown native Nathan Carman, 22, was found alive on a life raft Sunday about 100 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard by a freighter.

• UPDATE: Middletown Native Missing at Sea for a Week Lands in Boston

However, there was still no sign of his mother, 54-year-old Linda Carman.

The Coast Guard suspended the six-day search for the pair on Friday after “exhausting all search efforts.”

Despite the discovery of Nathan, the Coast Guard has no plans to renew its search for Linda Carman, according to the Hartford Courant.

A Coast Guard official told the Courant that Linda Carman’s disappearance was "beyond the survivability window," based on how long she has been missing, water conditions, the availability of food and drinkable water and other factors.

The search for the mother and son covered more than 62,000 square nautical miles and involved the Coast Guard and state and local authorities up and down the East Coast.

Nathan Carman was reportedly in stable condition when he was found.

On Sunday, the "Orient Lucky" freighter crew spotted Nathan Carman floating in an inflatable life raft, which is mandated safety equipment. He was hoisted aboard; the ship is expected to return to land by Tuesday.

Nathan, who is autistic, was the subject of a massive search in 2011 after he went missing upon the loss of a horse. He was eventually found in Virginia at a bus station.

The Carmans routinely went on fishing trips and were experienced with ocean travel. They reportedly traveled as far as Alaska for fishing trips.

Carman was found with food and water, according to Coast Guard Petty Officer Nicole Groll.

With reporting by Mark Schieldrop (Patch Staff)

Photo courtesy: U.S. Coast Guard