Charlie “Griff” Griffin, star of National Geographic’s “Wicked Tuna,” has died following in a boating accident on Monday.
The NatGeo star’s official Facebook page announced the news.
“It is with the deepest sadness we report that Charlie Griffin and his beloved dog, Leila, have passed away in a boating accident today,” the post reads. “Please keep family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. We will forever remember Griff!”
Griffin appeared in seasons 2-5 of “Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks,” which featured the captain and his crew fishing for bluefin tuna off the coast of North Carolina.
The fisherman had been taking his 35-foot recreational boat from Virginia Beach to Wanchese, N.C. for repairs but went missing some time Sunday evening.
The U.S. Coast Guard was dispatched after the report of the overdue vessel, finding it capsized near Pea Island in the Outer Banks on Monday morning. Griffin and Leila were found dead on the island having washed ashore, according to The Outer Banks Voice.
“Officers are still searching for a second occupant that was aboard the vessel,” the maritime service branch said.
That person was described as a 36-year-old man wearing a camouflage T-shirt and sweatshirt, khaki shorts and gray rubber work boots.
No other details about the incident were released.