UPDATE: Missing Buxton boater has been found alive near Rodanthe

A Buxton man has been found alive and safe after going missing in the Pamlico Sound on Tuesday, per an update from the U.S. Coast Guard 5th District Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs office.

Per the Coast Guard, 38-year-old John Hess’ boat had become disabled, but eventually washed ashore near Rodanthe. Hess was found by a nearby construction crew early Thursday morning, and authorities were notified.

The Coast Guard began searching the Pamlico Sound for the missing boater on Wednesday after he did not return to shore as expected Tuesday evening. Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector North Carolina command center received notification of the situation from Carteret County Emergency Dispatch at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday.

It was relayed that Hess took a friend’s 23-foot boat from a private residence in Beaufort onto the South River at about 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday and did not return at night as expected.

The boat’s owner searched for Hess overnight with no results, then alerted authorities.

A Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City MH-60 Jayhawk Helicopter crew and response boat crews from Coast Guard Station Hatteras Inlet and Coast Guard Station Hobucken were involved in the search for Hess.

Also assisting in the search were personnel from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Harkers Island Fire Department, North Carolina Marine Patrol, and the South River-Merrimon Fire Department.