An accident on a boat killed a CAPTAIN who was on the National Geographic show Wicked Tuna.
Charlie Griffin was last seen on a boat with a friend in the Outer Banks of North Carolina on Sunday night.
At 11 p.m. on Sunday, the Coast Guard got a report that two boaters who had left Virginia Beach were late getting to Wanchese, North Carolina, where their boat needed repairs.
A Coast Guard spokesman told The Virginian-Pilot that they hadn’t been seen or heard from since 6:15 that night.
On Monday, the Coast Guard and local first responders found the boat that was just sitting there. They went inside and found Griffin and his dog’s bodies.
It was still Monday evening and the second person on the trip was still missing. Police are still looking for them.
Griffin’s sad post on his Facebook page, Reels of Fortune, confirmed that he had died.
The sad news was posted along with a picture of Griffin smiling and getting some sun. The caption read, “Charlie Griffin and his beloved dog, Leila, died today in a boating accident.”
“Please keep family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.”
Griffin joined the Wicked Tuna cast for Season 2 and stayed until Season 5. He lived and worked in North Carolina.
Real life fishermen who make a living by catching huge fish that can be worth tens of thousands of dollars are the focus of an ongoing reality TV show on National Geographic.
At the end of the season, the fisherman who did the best is called the winner, which gives them bragging rights for life.
Griffin won the fourth season.
A lot of fans of the star shared their condolences on social media and talked about how sad they were about the news.
One fan wrote, “One of my all-time favorite guys.”
“Rest easy Griff.”
“All show fans should be very sad about this,” said someone else.
“He will forever be one of my favorites.”
Someone else said they met Charlie and Leila last summer on a boat ride and shared a picture of the two of them that makes my heart hurt.
“Charlie was very knowledgable and friendly, a great captain,” a fan said.
“Leila was a great dog.” His family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers.
A group that supports commercial fishermen called NC Watermen United also said that Griffin was “well loved and will be missed by many.”
The group said in a statement, “We will always be grateful for the difference he made in our lives.”
