UPDATE: Search for possible boater in distress called off by U.S. Coast Guard

February 8, 2018 7:22 am

By: News Staff

Email: news@abc6.com

Twitter: @ABC6

NEW BEDFORD, MA (WLNE) — The Coast Guard has suspended their search for a possible boater in distress in Buzzards Bay after receiving three mayday calls Wednesday night.

The Coast Guard said they suspended the search at Thursday at 1:09 p.m. after the searches yielded no findings or correlating information.

Crews had been scouring the waters all night, but found no sign of the boat or boater.

Aside from the mayday calls, the Coast Guard did not have much information about who or what they are looking for.

“Mayday…mayday,” was the call that came in by a mumbled male voice at 8:30 p.m. The Coast Guard responded but could not get in touch with the boater.

However at 8:53 p.m., the call was repeated but again, they could not establish communication.

The muffled male voice on the line was the only clue in the search.

ABC6 News was told that the Coast Guard had been searching through the night around Buzzards Bay, covering a total area of 767 square nautical miles and with the help of state and local responders.