Missing Rhode Island sailors found safe off coast of Virginia

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JAMESTOWN, R.I. (WLNE) – Two missing sailors and their dog have been found safe, according to the United States Coast Guard.

Ryan Hollis, 40, and Joshua Kane Cairone, 39, set sail with Louis-the-buoy a french bulldog on Oct. 23. Their journey started in Jamestown, R.I. with the destination of Miami, Fla. 

They were expected to reach their first stop of Norfolk, Virginia by Oct. 25. 

They were reported missing on Oct. 26 when no one had heard from them, prompting a search by the Coast Guard. 

The sailors were located on Oct. 28 by a rescue aircrew about 100 miles off the coast of Cape Henry, Virginia. 

 They were found safe and healthy. According to the Coast Guard, there was nothing wrong with their boat and the men had not realized that they were reported missing.

ABC6 News sat down with the mother of Ryan Hollis, Lisa DiSaia, who said she can sleep easy again knowing that her son is safe. 

DiSaia said she went to church twice on Monday to pray for her son’s safe return. 

“After work, I left and went back to church and asked for another favor. I just needed a sign. I needed to know he’s OK. In my heart, I felt he was OK,” said DiSaia.

Shortly after that, she got the call that her son was found safe, along with Cairone and Louis-the-buoy were. 

“I broke down,” said DiSaia. “That was the only time I really lost it because I knew he was good.”

According to the Coast Guard, Hollis and Cairone plan on continuing their journey. Their next stop is in North Carolina. 

WLNE-TV/ABC6 2019