Update expected on missing 18-year-old boater in Susquehanna River
Authorities managing the search in Harford County for a boater missing on the Susquehanna River are planning to provide an update on the situation on Wednesday afternoon.
On Monday, crews in Harford County continued to search for 18-year-old Mark Coates, who went missing on the river last Wednesday.
Coates has not been seen or heard from since launching his boat at the Water Street boat ramp around 5 p.m. last Wednesday, according to Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP).
So far, the search has included vessel patrols, dive excursions and aerial searches utilizing helicopters and drones from multiple agencies from surrounding areas. As the operation continues, volunteer search efforts are no longer restricted in the areas between the Tydings Memorial Bridge (I-95) and the Amtrak Bridge, NRP said.
Coates' mother describes him as an avid fisherman who spent every day chasing sunrises and sunsets, which makes his disappearance even more devastating.
"It's like, wow, we actually live right on the water, so we were able to see the boats go up and back and forth searching. It's just sad," Havre De Grace resident John Himelright said.
Himelright doesn't know the Coates family personally, but said this situation has rocked the entire community.
Last Thursday morning, Maryland Natural Resources Police were dispatched to Garrett Island for reports of a capsized 10-foot aluminum Jon boat that belongs to Coates, but the 18-year-old wasn't on board.
"My first reaction was, how young is he, and whatever age is way too young," Himelright said.
Countless agencies, including dive teams, search dogs, and aviation resources, have assisted in the search, which Himelright has watched from his home on the water. He said he is a boater himself, and the incident hits too close to home.
"It makes you realize that you always have to be on your guard. Watch out for others and watch the tides, watch the weather, of course. That's a big one - storms come in pretty quick," Himelright said.
As the search continues, the Department of Natural Resources is asking boaters to avoid the Susquehanna River between the U.S. 40 and the I-95 bridges.
