#Update The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its active search for Jeffrey Kale off the North Carolina coast after approximately 72 combine search hours, covering more than 7,762 square miles, which is nearly the size of the state of Massachusetts.
“It is with heavy hearts that we suspend our active search for Mr. Kale,” said Cmdr. Corrie Sergent, U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Carolina deputy commander. “Our extensive search by air and sea with numerous crews, assets, and several good Samaritans, saturated the various areas we believed he may be. Anytime 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.”
UPDATE: April 10, 2024 at 10:20 AM
USCG advised that the search area today extends 70 NM off shore from Cape Fear to Cape Lookout.
UPDATE: Urgent
Coast Guard resumes search for missing boater off North Carolina coast
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard has resumed its search for a missing boater Tuesday off the coast of North Carolina.
A good Samaritan located a vessel matching the description of the boat Jeffery Kale was aboard, nearly 83 miles east of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.
Coast Guard Sector North Carolina issued an urgent marine information bulletin to mariners in the area, requesting assistance locating Kale. Multiple U.S. Navy assets in the area responded to the urgent marine information bulletin and are assisting the Coast Guard in the search.
The vessel had fishing gear engaged and was moving northeast at nearly 6 miles per hour. There was no one aboard and no visible damage to the vessel.
Coastal patrol boat USCGC Steelhead (WPB 87324), an Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130 Hercules airplane crew and various Navy assets are searching for Kale.
A commercial towing company will retrieve the vessel and tow it to shore.
Update: 4/8/2024 at 8:51PM
The Coast Guard suspended its active search for a missing boater Monday at 8:20 p.m. off the coast of North Carolina.
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Coast Guard searching for missing boater off North Carolina coast
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard continues search efforts for a missing boater Sunday between Blackjack and Steeples, North Carolina.
Missing is Jeffrey Kale, 47, from Clover, South Carolina, last seen around 4 p.m. Saturday, aboard a white 32-foot Cape Horn center-console boat departing the Southport Wildlife Boat Ramp.
Coast Guard Sector North Carolina watchstanders received a notification from Kale’s family stating he was overdue from a fishing trip around 10:30 p.m.
If anyone has information contact Sector North Carolina command center at 910-343-3880.
This message was posted on Boat Watch Facebook Group:
*** April 7th, 2024 8pm Update
The Oak Island Police Department is still actively participating in the investigation of missing boater, Jeffrey Kale. We are still assisting the United States Coast Guard with any investigative leads and have been working directly with the family to ensure an efficient transfer of information. The United States Coast Guard is still actively searching fishing grounds and specific areas in the Atlantic Ocean based on previous trips and information from the family. A search grid has been established and the use of marine resources and Coast Guard aircraft are being utilized.
APRIL 7, 2024 • MISSING BOATER
The Oak Island Police Department is currently assisting the United States Coast Guard with a report of a missing boater.
Jeffrey Kale, 47 years of age, went fishing in the Atlantic Ocean on April 6th in his 32 foot Cape Horn boat with hull number NC4431FA.
If anyone has contact with Mr Kale or his boat, please call 9-1-1.
