U.S. Coast Guard Suspends Search For Missing Boater On Long Island

SHIRLEY, NY — The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search at sundown Monday for the owner of an unmanned 25-foot pleasure boat that washed up at Smith Point County Park in Shirley, a spokesman said.

The boat, which is registered to a man in New York, was found on the ocean side of the beach, just west of Moriches Inlet, around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Coast Guard Lt. Cory Murallo said Tuesday.

"We are suspending the search pending more information in the investigation," he said.

Suffolk police believe the boat launched toward the Atlantic Ocean around 10 a.m. Sunday.

The department's Marine Bureau have begun a recovery effort which will continue on Tuesday.

The name of the missing boater has not yet been released.

The man went out on a last-of-the-season fishing trip, News 12 reported, and his family became alarmed when he didn't come home when he was supposed to. His son told Caroline Flynn he loved being on his boat, and took it out every weekend with or without his family, who miss him very much.

A combination of 11 boats and helicopters were used in the massive search effort. The apparatus included one fixed-wing aircraft, three helicopters, and boats from the Coast Guard, as well as five police and fire boats, Lt. Murallo told Patch Monday.

He said there was only one word to use to describe the massive effort and the number of Coast Guard assets that were deployed — exhaustive, and noted that the command would continue until the search pattern was complete.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.