CG searches for missing boaters

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - The Coast Guard is searching along the coast of the Eastern Shore for two missing boaters who departed from Maryland Saturday morning and did not arrive in Chincoteague as expected Saturday evening.

Around 8:30 a.m. the wife of one of the boaters contacted the Coast Guard and reported that her husband Mike Bramlett, 51, and his brother, Donald Bramlett, 54, had not arrived as expected.

The pair left Ocean City, Md. aboard the 38-foot pleasure craft Reel Fun Saturday morning, according to a press release from the Coast Guard.

Coast Guard watchstanders issued an urgent marine message broadcast, diverted the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Mako and dispatched an HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Coast Guard Station Elizabeth City to search for the overdue boat.

Anyone with information regarding the overdue boaters is asked to call the Coast Guard command center at 757-483-8567.