ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. -- The United States Coast Guard has called off a search for a missing man who jumped from a shrimp boat Monday night.
Petty Officer Lauren Jorgensen said Tuesday morning the Coast Guard spoke with the missing boater's mother, who confirmed he is on land and safe. No other details were immediately available.
The Coast Guard was notified the shrimp boat had run aground in Atlantic Beach around 9 p.m. Monday night, according to United States Coast Guard Public Affairs Officer Petty Officer Lauren Jorgensen.
SLIDESHOW: Shrimp boat runs ground, boater jumps off boat, found safe
Atlantic Beach Police responded the scene, Jorgensen said, and as they were trying to get the two men off the boat, one of them jumped into the water. Rescuers have not seen him since. The missing boater has been identified as Kenneth Thomas.
According to the Coast Guard, Thomas entered the water to evade police officers.
There is a Coast Guard boat in the water and a helicopter was being used in search efforts throughout the night.
Tuesday morning a 45-foot response boat from Coast Guard Station Mayport and an aircrew aboard a helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Savannah are expected to resume the search beginning around 7 a.m.
Also assisting in the search are the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.
The Atlantic Beach Police Department is conducting a shoreline search for the missing man.
The shrimp boat's owner was not aboard at the time it ran aground. Jorgensen said he is making arrangements with a commercial salvage company to recover the boat.
First Coast News