Storms halt search for missing boater near Brunswick

U.S. Coast Guard crews have paused their search for a boater who never returned from a trip on the South Brunswick River in Georgia.

The search for 63-year old Charles Johnson was paused late Sunday afternoon because of thunder and lightning.

Officials said they’ll continue the search around 7 a.m. on Monday if weather permits.

“It definitely makes it more difficult navigating as far as the hazards in the water,” said Kate Hargrove with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. “We’ll continue to be out there as long as the water is safe enough for rescuers to be on the water.”

Johnson's wife told the officials he left for a fishing trip on Friday. She notified officials Saturday at 3 p.m. when he didn't return.

Officials found Johnson's unmanned 14-foot boat off Blythe Island soon after. Fishing gear and life jackets were still inside.

“The boat was found upright, drifting,” said Hargrove. “No evidence, no clear cause of collision or anything like that.”

Investigators were last searching off Colonel’s Island, near where Johnson’s boat was found.

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