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Coast Guard suspends search for boater missing out of Norfolk

Posted at 8:47 AM, Apr 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-22 13:13:01-04

NORFOLK, Va. - The Coast Guard was searching for a boater who was last seen aboard his sailboat Sunday morning.

Paul Youngk, 63, disappeared while boating on the Elizabeth River near Front Street in Norfolk. He is 6 feet 3 inches tall, and was wearing blue jeans, a black coat and a green shirt.

On Monday morning the Coast Guard said they had suspended their search. An MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and the crews of Coast Guard Cutter Hawk and Station Portsmouth searched a total of 152 square miles in 11.6 hours.

The sailboat was found and was reportedly taking on water before it sunk. A body was located near the boat Monday morning but officials are waiting for the identification of the body before releasing a name.

“Several different agencies came together yesterday to search for Mr. Youngk,” said Capt. Samson Stevens, deputy commander for Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads. “It’s with a heavy heart that the Coast Guard has decided to suspend its search, this is not the outcome we were hoping for and our thoughts are with the Youngk family.”

Anyone with information on Youngk's whereabouts is asked to call (757) 638-6638.