BRUNSWICK, Ga. — The Coast Guard has announced that it suspended its search on Thursday for three local fisherman that went missing off the Brunswick, Georgia coast.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
Action News Jax has been following this story since 3 people on board a 31-foot fishing boat went missing Fri., Oct. 20.
Related Story: Coast Guard searching for 31-foot fishing boat that went missing off the Georgia Coast
The three men embarked on their journey last Saturday, with the expectation of returning home last Thursday afternoon. However, they never arrived, and family members have not heard a word from them.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
The fishing boat, named the ‘Carol Ann’ went roughly 80 miles offshore of Brunswick. The U.S. Coast Guard began efforts to locate them on Friday.
The three men on board are Tyler Barlow, Caleb Wilkinson, and Dalton Conway.
Related Story: Family speaks out as the U.S. Coast Guard continues search for three missing fishermen
Stevie Conway, Dalton’s sister and Caleb’s girlfriend told Action News Jax, “It’s absolutely terrifying. We are sick to our stomachs. Lots of tears and gatherings, getting together to try to uplift each other and stay positive whenever we’re all wanting to fall apart.”
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, crews searched more than 94,000 square miles, an area larger in size than the states of Georgia and South Carolina combined, over the span of seven days.
Related Story: Family of fishermen missing off Brunswick coast say they’ll keep searching if Coast Guard stops
“Despite the unwavering dedication of our crews, regrettably, we have not been able to uncover any traces of the vessel and have made the difficult decision to suspend the search for three beloved family members,” Capt. Frank DelRosso, commander, Coast Guard Sector Charleston said. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partner agencies and the countless volunteers who have lent their assistance in this arduous search. Undoubtedly, they, like us, share in the deep sympathy we hold for the families of the missing individuals.”
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
The owner of the vessel ‘Carol Ann’ reported to Coast Guard Sector Charleston that he hired a crew of three people that failed to return on Oct. 18, as scheduled. The crew was reported to have gone deep-sea fishing offshore Brunswick. The last communication with the owner and the vessel was on the day they departed.
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.