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US man rescued from capsized boat two months after going missing at sea Man rescued from capsized boat two months after going missing at sea
(35 minutes later)
A man whose family reported him missing at sea more than two months ago has been found sitting on the overturned hull of his 35ft boat far off the North Carolina coast.A man whose family reported him missing at sea more than two months ago has been found sitting on the overturned hull of his 35ft boat far off the North Carolina coast.
US Coast Guard officials in Portsmouth, Virginia, said they received word from a German tanker at 1.30pm on Thursday about a man and his boat approximately 200 miles east of Cape Hatteras.US Coast Guard officials in Portsmouth, Virginia, said they received word from a German tanker at 1.30pm on Thursday about a man and his boat approximately 200 miles east of Cape Hatteras.
A coastguard helicopter crew from North Carolina flew to the ship and airlifted Louis Jordan to a hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, said Lt Krystyn Pecora, a spokeswoman for the Coast Guard’s 5th District office.A coastguard helicopter crew from North Carolina flew to the ship and airlifted Louis Jordan to a hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, said Lt Krystyn Pecora, a spokeswoman for the Coast Guard’s 5th District office.
She said Jordan, 37, had a shoulder injury, but she did not have any additional information about his condition.She said Jordan, 37, had a shoulder injury, but she did not have any additional information about his condition.
Chief Petty Officer Ryan Doss said Jordan’s sailboat had lost its mast and capsized. The tanker crew said it found Jordan sitting on the hull. Chief Petty Officer Ryan Doss said Jordan’s sailboat had lost its mast and capsized. The tanker crew said it found Jordan sitting on the hull. Doss said it was not known where or how long the boat had been capsized, but said Jordan told them he ate fish he caught to survive.
Doss said it was not known where or how long the boat had been capsized, but said Jordan told them he ate fish he caught to survive. Jordan had been living on his docked sailboat at the Bucksport Plantation marina in Conway, South Carolina, until January, when he told his family he was “going into the open water to sail and do some fishing”, said his mother, Norma Davis, of Jacksonville, North Carolina. The family had not heard from him since, she said.
Jordan had been living on his docked sailboat at the Bucksport Plantation marina in Conway, South Carolina, until January, when he told his family he was “going into the open water to sail and do some fishing,” said his mother, Norma Davis, of Jacksonville, North Carolina. The family had not heard from him since, she said.
“We expected him to come back and he did not return,” Davis said in a telephone interview. “We knew something happened. To us it’s just a miracle. We’re just so thrilled that he was found alive.”“We expected him to come back and he did not return,” Davis said in a telephone interview. “We knew something happened. To us it’s just a miracle. We’re just so thrilled that he was found alive.”
Jordan had spent months sanding and painting his docked 1950s-era, single-masted sailboat in Conway, where the marina manager Jeff Weeks said he had seen Jordan nearly every day. Jordan was the only resident in a section of about 20 boats docked behind a coded security gate, Weeks said. Jordan had spent months sanding and painting his docked 1950s-era, single-masted sailboat in Conway, where the marina manager, Jeff Weeks, said he had seen Jordan nearly every day. Jordan was the only resident in a section of about 20 boats docked behind a coded security gate, Weeks said.
“You’ll probably never meet a nicer guy,” Weeks said. “He is a quiet gentleman that most of the time keeps to himself. He’s polite. I would describe him as a gentle giant.”“You’ll probably never meet a nicer guy,” Weeks said. “He is a quiet gentleman that most of the time keeps to himself. He’s polite. I would describe him as a gentle giant.”
Jordan appeared to be knowledgable about wild fruits and mushrooms and fished for his meal in inland waterways, Weeks said. But his January trip may have been his first time sailing in the open ocean.Jordan appeared to be knowledgable about wild fruits and mushrooms and fished for his meal in inland waterways, Weeks said. But his January trip may have been his first time sailing in the open ocean.
“He might sail up and down the Intercoastal Waterway, but he didn’t have the experience he needed to go out into the ocean,” Weeks said.“He might sail up and down the Intercoastal Waterway, but he didn’t have the experience he needed to go out into the ocean,” Weeks said.
Records show that Jordan sailed out of the marina in Conway on 23 January aboard the sailboat Angel. Marilyn Fajardo, a spokeswoman for the Coast Guard’s 7th District, said officials in Miami were notified by Jordan’s father, Frank, on 29 January that he had not been seen or heard from in a week. One week later, Davis confirmed that their son was still missing.Records show that Jordan sailed out of the marina in Conway on 23 January aboard the sailboat Angel. Marilyn Fajardo, a spokeswoman for the Coast Guard’s 7th District, said officials in Miami were notified by Jordan’s father, Frank, on 29 January that he had not been seen or heard from in a week. One week later, Davis confirmed that their son was still missing.
Fajardo said alerts were issued from New Jersey to Miami to be on the lookout for Jordan and his boat. Officials also searched financial data to determine whether Jordan had come ashore without being noticed, but found no indication that he had, she said.Fajardo said alerts were issued from New Jersey to Miami to be on the lookout for Jordan and his boat. Officials also searched financial data to determine whether Jordan had come ashore without being noticed, but found no indication that he had, she said.
A search was begun on 8 February, but Fajardo said the coastguard abandoned its efforts after 10 days. Despite reports from other sailors claiming to have seen Jordan’s boat, none of the sightings were confirmed and the case was suspended. A search was begun on 8 February, but Fajardo said the coastguard abandoned its efforts after 10 days. Despite reports from other sailors claiming to have seen Jordan’s boat, none of the sightings was confirmed and the case was suspended.
The coastguard said Jordan had not filed a “float plan” – the nautical equivalent of a flight plan – to determine his route or destination, and Fajardo said there had not been enough information to narrow down his whereabouts.The coastguard said Jordan had not filed a “float plan” – the nautical equivalent of a flight plan – to determine his route or destination, and Fajardo said there had not been enough information to narrow down his whereabouts.
Davis said she was looking forward to celebrating her son’s return. “We do plan on having a wonderful Easter celebration with family and I can’t wait to get him back,” she said.Davis said she was looking forward to celebrating her son’s return. “We do plan on having a wonderful Easter celebration with family and I can’t wait to get him back,” she said.