Coast Guard suspends search for missing man whose empty boat washed up in Newport Beach

Coast Guard crews suspended their search Monday afternoon for missing boater Nicholas Busick, 47, whose unoccupied vessel went ashore in Newport Beach on Sunday evening, authorities said.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol continued searching as part of its regular patrols and will as long as there’s daylight, spokeswoman Carrie Braun said.

Authorities said Busick rode his bicycle to a dock in Newport Harbor where his boat was kept and took the vessel out at about 1 p.m. Sunday. He had told his family he was going out for a short ride, which was not unusual, authorities said.

The 17-foot motorized Boston Whaler washed up on the beach, still running, near 48th Street with no one aboard shortly before 6 p.m. Newport Beach lifeguards determined that at least one person was missing from the vessel.

The Coast Guard, Sheriff’s Department and lifeguards searched 186 square nautical miles by helicopter and boat for about 19 hours, authorities said.

Sheriff’s Department homicide investigators and the Orange County Crime Lab searched the Boston Whaler for evidence Monday. However, officials said they do not consider Busick’s disappearance suspicious.

Busick is described as about 6 feet tall and 175 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. He was wearing a dark T-shirt and gray shorts. Authorities declined to release his city of residence.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Coast Guard at (310) 521-3801.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN

UPDATES:

4:45 p.m.: This article was updated with the Coast Guard search being suspended.

11 a.m.: This article was updated with the man’s identity and additional details.

This article was originally published at 8:25 a.m.