Coast Guard suspends search for overdue French sailor in mid-Atlantic region

The Coast Guard suspended the search for an overdue French sailor in the mid-Atlantic region at 2 p.m. Friday.

The Coast Guard began searching when Sector North Carolina watchstanders in Wilmington, North Carolina, and Sector Hampton Roads watchstanders in Portsmouth received a mayday distress broadcast on Sunday night.

Coast Guard assets involved in the search were HC-130 Hercules airplane crews and MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews from Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Lawrence Lawson, homeported in Cape May, New Jersey.

The Coast Guard’s search encompassed 11,104 square miles.

Also searching was a Navy MH-60 helicopter crew from the USS Eisenhower, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia.

“Suspending a search for a missing or overdue boater is never an easy decision to make,” said Lt. Cmdr. Wes Geyer, search and rescue mission coordinator, with the 5th Coast Guard District Command Center. “We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of Joseph Calland.”