Coast Guard: Missing man’s boat found off Wrightsville Beach; search resumes

OAK ISLAND, N.C. — A search is resuming after a missing South Carolina man’s boat was found Tuesday.

>> A GoFundMe has been set up for the Kale family. Click here to contribute.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Oak Island Police Department say Jeffrey Kale went fishing on Saturday afternoon, leaving from the Southport Wildlife Boat Ramp near Oak Island, North Carolina.

Kale, 47, left around 4 p.m. Saturday on his white 32-foot Cape Horn boat with hull number NC4431FA. When he didn’t return by 10:30 p.m., his family alerted local authorities.

The Coast Guard searched the Atlantic Ocean between Blackjack and Steeples. Oak Island police said they were looking where he’s fished before.

Around 8:30 p.m. Monday, the Coast Guard announced it was suspending its active search for Kale.

“It is with heavy hearts that we suspend our active search for Mr. Kale,” said Sector North Carolina Deputy Commander Corrie Sergent. “Our extensive search by air and sea with numerous crews, assets, and several good Samaritans, saturated the various areas we believed he may be. Any time we conduct a search and rescue, it is with the hope of bringing someone back home and safely reuniting them with their family and friends. The decision to suspend a search is one of the most difficult decisions to make. Our thoughts are with the Kale family.”

But on Tuesday afternoon, the Coast Guard confirmed to Channel 9 that they got a tip the boat had been found. A good Samaritan found it, and with help from the Navy, the Coast Guard confirmed the boat was Kale’s.

The boat was found about 83 miles east of Wrightsville Beach, officials said. No one was on board.

The Coast Guard said the boat was was moving northeast at 6 mph and was attached to fishing equipment.

A local company is expected to tow the boat to shore to investigate it further, the Coast Guard said.

‘Just pray that we find him’

Channel 9′s Tina Terry learned Kale, a father and businessman from Clover, had been on a spring break vacation with his wife and sons when he disappeared. He made the decision to go fishing at the last minute, they said.

“The last time I talked to him was at 3:43 p.m. [Saturday], and that’s the last time I heard from him,” said his wife, Deanna Kale, adding, “It was on the phone he said he loved us.”

A spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard told Terry they’ve been investigating Kale’s disappearance since it was reported.

“About 4:19, that’s’ when our cellphone forensics have the last ping on his cellphone,” Lt. Commander Mike Wu said. “At that point, his cellphone was about a mile southwest of Baldhead Island, heading offshore.”

Wu said the Coast Guard has spent more than 50 hours searching, with boats and even a C-130 plane in the air. Kale’s family and friends are asking the public to help as well.

“As many people that see Jeff’s picture, see the pictures of the boat, maybe they know someone who is out working on a container ship or is out fishing today,” said family friend Laura Townsend. “We just want as many people to share the information and pictures as possible.”

“We just need prayers and we need people to be out there that’s on the water looking out for him, to see if they see him, you know?” Deanna Kale said. “Just pray that we find him,” she added.

The Coast Guard said kale’s boat is equipped with something called an EPIRB -- a distress beacon for boats. The boater can turn it on when in trouble. It can also activate if it falls into the water.

Anyone with information is asked to contact 911 or the local Coast Guard command center at 910-343-3880.

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