BUXTON, N.C. — The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for people after an empty raft was spotted off the shore of North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
Petty Officer Tara Molle said Monday that the Coast Guard called off its search on Friday evening.
She said the raft appeared to be brand new and that there were not indications that it had been occupied. The Coast Guard also found no corresponding reports of missing people.
The life raft was spotted one mile offshore of Buxton on Thursday.
A Coast Guard aircrew had deployed a swimmer to observe the raft more closely. It was a six-man orange life raft with no visible marine growth or markings.