Search suspended for man who jumped off boat near HRBT to retrieve fishing net

The Coast Guard's search for a man who jumped off a boat into the water near the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) on Thursday was suspended Friday afternoon, according to the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard says its search was suspended Friday around 2 p.m. and local search efforts will continue into the weekend.

A 58-year-old man jumped into the water around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday to get a fishing net, the Coast Guard says. They said he wasn't wearing a life vest.

The man's family has been notified and the Coast Guard has identified the man as Keith Thomas Henley of Providence Forge, Va.

The Coast Guard says the man was with another person out fishing at anchor. The boat was about a mile and a half offshore, but the exact location of where they were fishing is unknown, the Coast Guard added.

"There were two people who were out fishing at anchor, one person had entered the water without a personal flotation device and the other person stayed on board," Lt. Michael Long, with the U.S Coast Guard, said.

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The search for the man began immediately after he jumped in the water, the Coast Guard says. The Coast Guard told News 3 on Thursday it was an "all hands on deck" effort to find the missing man.

The Coast Guard and Navy searched for the man throughout Thursday night.

They continued looking for the man Friday morning until the Coast Guard suspended its search Friday afternoon pending further development.

Those out on the water are reminded to wear life vests no matter your swimming experience level.

"Regardless of how good of a swimmer that you think you are whenever you enter the water there's a danger of currents, undercurrents that you don't realize," Long said. "So having a floatation device at all times regardless of how you perceive the water we always advise having a life vest on when you go in the water."

Those who helped with the search include U.S Coast Guard Cutter Sailfish, Coast Guard Station Milford Haven, Coast Guard Station Portsmouth, Hampton Fire Rescue, Hampton Police, Poquoson Marine Unit, U.S Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, Virginia Marine Resources Commission, and the Department of Wildlife Resources.

Stay with News 3 for updates.

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