Coast Guard searches for person in the water off Holden Beach, N.C.

HOLDEN BEACH, N.C. - The Coast Guard, Holden Beach Police Department, and Tri Beach Water Rescue are searching for a missing bodyboarder who reportedly was knocked over by a large wave and did not resurface off Holden Beach Friday.

Tri Beach Water Rescue contacted watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Carolina stating they received reports from 3 witnesses about the bodyboarder at 12:15 p.m.

A Coast Guard rescue helicopter crew from Air Facility Charleston, S.C., searched for the man and was relieved by a rescue helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City. A 25-foot rescue boat crew from Station Oak Island is also searching off the beach.

The Coast Guard and local responders have set up an incident command post on the beach to coordinate the search.

According to Petty Officer 1st Class Kurt Yockel, the Coast Guard representative from Station Oak Island, the search teams searched until sunset.

The search has been suspended pending any further information.

"If we get any further information about the case, then we will search based on it," said Yockel.

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