Boater Rescued After 12 Days Missing at Sea Off Hawaii

The search for Ron Ingraham, 67, was suspended on Dec. 1.

ByABC News
December 9, 2014, 7:58 PM
National Coast Guard Emblem
National Coast Guard Emblem
National Coast Guard

— -- A man who has been missing since Nov. 27 after he radioed a desperate mayday from his waterlogged sailing vessel was found alive and uninjured today aboard his 25-foot sailing vessel 64 miles south of Honolulu, Coast Guard officials said.

The last contact with Ron Ingraham, 67, was when he placed two mayday calls 12 days ago, saying that his vessel, Malia, was taking on water and in danger of sinking 46 miles west of Kailua-Kona, officials said.

Coast Guard and Navy crews conducted an extensive search of the area, flying 59 sorties and covering approximately 12,000 square miles, but with no success. The Coast Guard suspended the search for Ingraham on Dec. 1.

Then the Coast Guard in Honolulu received a short mayday call today, officials said.

A Coast Guard watchstander on duty put out an urgent call to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton, which was about 14 miles away, officials said. The destroyer arrived at the scene about half an hour after it received the call.

"The U.S. Navy ship reported Ingraham was weak, hungry and dehydrated. The crew provided food and water to Ingraham and a rescue and assistance team is attempting to affect repairs to the outboard engine aboard Malia," Coast Guard officials said in a statement.