The U.S. Coast Guard suspended their search for a missing spear fisherman off the coast of Honaunau Beach Park, on the Big Island, at 11:30 a.m. today. They were assisting the Hawaii County Fire Department in the search for 41-year-old Jeremiah Nathan.
"The decision to suspend a search is one of the hardest we have to make," said Shannon Gilreath, Sector Honolulu's acting commander. "Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family and friends of Mr. Nathan during this difficult time."
According to the Coast Guard, he was last seen walking on the beach at 4 p.m. Wednesday. He had diving gear and was wearing a blue-green camouflage, full-body wet suit. He is believed to have been carrying his spear fishing gear.
A friend received a call on Thursday that Nathan hadn't arrived in California as expected. The friend traveled to Honaunau Bay where he found Nathan's truck, parked and unlocked, with personal items inside. His friend then called the Coast Guard at 9 p.m.
Crews have covered 900 square miles off the west coast of the Big Island. The Hawaii County Fire Department conducted shoreline and aerial searches with divers, boats and aircraft. They are continuing their search for Nathan.
On Friday, the Coast Guard used the 110-foot cutter, Kiska, and a Air Station Barbers Point crew used a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter. A Coast Guard Auxiliary airplane crew conducted a first light search this morning.
If anything new develops, the Coast Guard will rejoin the search. Anyone with information on Nathan's whereabouts is asked to contact the Sector Honolulu Command Center at 808-842-2600 or the Hawaii County Fire Department dispatch at 808-961-8336.
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