A boat accident killed a CAPTAIN who was on the National Geographic show Wicked Tuna.
Charlie Griffin wasn’t seen or heard from on Sunday night while boating with a friend in North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
The Coast Guard got a call at 11 p.m. on Sunday that two boaters who had left Virginia Beach were late getting to Wanchese, North Carolina, where their boat needed repairs.
The Coast Guard told The Virginian-Pilot that they hadn’t been heard from since 6:15 that night.
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.
As of Monday evening, the second person on the trip was still missing, but police are still looking for them.
Griffin’s death was confirmed in a sad post on his Reels of Fortune Facebook page.
Griffin was shown smiling in the sun, and the post said, “It is with the deepest sadness that we report that Charlie Griffin and his beloved dog, Leila, have died in a boating accident today.”
“Please keep family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.”
Griffin joined the cast of Wicked Tuna for Season 2 and stayed until Season 5. He lived and worked in North Carolina.
A reality TV show on National Geographic follows experienced fishermen who make a living by catching huge fish that can be worth tens of thousands of dollars.
The fisherman who does the best over the course of the season is named the winner at the end, which gives them bragging rights for life.
Season 4 ended with Griffin winning.
Fans of the star shared their condolences and expressed their shock at the terrible news on social media.
“One of my favorite guys ever,” wrote one fan.
“Rest easy Griff.”
“This makes all of us show fans very sad,” said someone else.
“He will forever be one of my favorites.”
Another fan said they met Charlie and Leila on a boat ride last summer and shared a picture of the two of them that makes my heart hurt.
“Charlie was very knowledgable and friendly, a great captain,” said a fan.
I thought Leila was a great dog. We are praying for his family and friends.
Griffin was remembered by NC Watermen United, a group that supports commercial fishermen, as someone who was “well loved and will be missed by many.”
In a statement, the group said, “We will always be grateful for the difference he made in our lives.”