The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick. (KRBD file photo by Leila Kheiry)
Search and rescue efforts were under way Friday for a 20-year-old Hydaburg man whose empty boat was found floating off Prince of Wales Island Thursday evening.
According to the online Alaska State Troopers dispatch, an empty boat operated by Francis Charles was found about 5.5 nautical miles southeast of Hydaburg.
The U.S. Coast Guard is in charge of the search. Coast Guard Public Information Officer Meredith Manning said Friday 
that “Coast Guard Sector Juneau Watchstanders had received a request for assistance from Hydaburg search and rescue personnel last night (Thursday),” she said. “They reported that they had located the skiff Francis Charles was in. It was located near California Island. And that one of their boat crews had located a pair of boots in the water at Round Point on Blanket Island.”
Manning says Charles last was seen wearing tan chest waders and a blue float coat. Weather on scene was calm and about 50 degrees.
Manning says searchers include a Coast Guard Jayhawk helicopter crew, the cutters John McCormick and Anacapa, and Hydaburg search and rescue.
UPDATE: The search for Charles has been suspended.
Some information provided to KRBD when this report first was published turned out to be incorrect. We have changed this report to reflect the correct information.
