PAWLEYS ISLAND — Authorities are searching for a missing boater who was last seen May 19 in Georgetown County.

Kerry Van Arsdel of Indiana pulled out of The Reserve Marina, but his unmanned boat was found near Butler Island on May 22, according to a news release from the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office. The island is miles from the docks. His personal items were still in the boat. 

A group of federal, state and local agencies has been searching the waterways with boats, drones, planes and a helicopter. Marine crews plan to continue searching the Waccamaw River throughout the holiday weekend, though air searches have been paused because of the weather.   

Van Arsdel has been known to spend time on the channels of the river. Although authorities aren’t certain, they believe he may have been wearing a red shirt.

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources is leading the search, but the sheriff’s office is managing the missing person investigation, according to the release.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 843-546-5102.