JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Joe Hurston has been flying for more than five decades.
As a chaplain with Air Mobile Ministries, he's helped in a number of search-and-rescue missions.
"We've actually found some people on the sea when all hope was lost," Hurston said.
That's why Hurston said he couldn’t sit this one out.
As soon as he heard that Brian McCluney and Justin Walker were missing after heading out into the Atlantic Ocean on a fishing trip, he made some phone calls. By chance, he reached Natasha Walker, Justin's wife, and joined the search.
On Thursday, Action News Jax went up with Hurston to see the search efforts firsthand.
Despite news that the U.S. Coast Guard will suspend the active search Thursday night, Hurston said Walker's family remains hopeful.
"Like anything, they’re on waves. They have good moments. They have bad moments. They have moments of doubt. We all do and then we have moments of, 'Let's go find them,'" Hurston said.
- Dozens of firefighters help search for two men who went missing while fishing
- "This is a bread crumb they threw overboard": Missing firefighter's tackle bag found by boater
- Photos: Local firefighters to continue search for two missing boaters
- 'We're not giving up until these guys are found:' Search to continue for missing firefighters
- Missing boater's wife helps search by air as rescue efforts continue off Florida coast
- Missing firefighters: 180 volunteers searching off Jacksonville's coast
- Discovery of missing firefighter's tackle-bag helps steer search
- Wife of missing Jacksonville firefighter joins search for husband, friend
- Volunteers in Georgia join efforts to find firefighters lost at sea as search expands
- How to help in the search for missing firefighters lost at sea off Florida Coast
- Volunteer boater recounts covering hundreds of miles in search for missing firefighters
- Pilot searching for firefighters lost at sea says this is some of the hardest flying he's done
- Local doctors discuss what it takes to survive at sea as search continues for missing firefighters
- "People have lasted longer than 4 days at sea" Family, friends, neighbors don't give up on search
- Search for missing firefighters Brian McCluney, Justin Walker suspended at sunset
- Florida pilot won't give up looking for missing firefighters even after Coast Guard suspends search
- 'Unfortunately our best wasn't good enough,' S.C. volunteers finish up search for firefighters
- Family of missing firefighter raising donations to continue searches
The pilot remembers one mission where six men were lost out in the sea. When everyone had given up, something told Hurston they were still out there.
"I immediately got my little crew together, put them in an airplane, took off, turn 90 degrees from where everybody had been searching for days, flew straight to them in four minutes," he said.
It's now day seven of the search for Walker and McCluney. Hurston believes the men are out there somewhere and he’s not losing hope.
"I've seen some real miracles and that’s what we need right now we just need a miracle," Hurston said.
Hurston said he’ll head to North Carolina and help search the Gulf Stream for any signs of the two firefighters.
STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on this breaking story
TRENDING:
- 'We're not giving up until these guys are found:' Search to continue for missing firefighters
- The Pier Cantina & Sandbar to close its doors in September
- Reality star Todd Chrisley's daughter says father, brother blackmailing her with sex tape
- Coast Guard, other agencies searching for two missing firefighters off coast of Port Canaveral
- PHOTOS: Alligator seen climbing fence at Naval Air Station Jacksonville
Cox Media Group
