The North Carolina Coast Guard says it has suspended its search for what was an unconfirmed mayday call and now believe it may have been a hoax.

Officials with the Coast Guard and Pamlico County EMS had been searching the Neuse River around the mouth of Dawson Creek Saturday evening for what was said to be a boat that had run aground and was taking on water.

The Coast Guard says that it takes all calls for rescue seriously and will continue to monitor whether a renewed search needs to take place.

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Elements of the North Carolina Coast Guard are searching for an unconfirmed boat in distress.

A public affairs officer with the Coast Guard tells WITN that an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and a small boat from station Hobucken, along with Pamlico EMS are searching the Neuse River around the mouth of Dawson Creek for the source of an unconfirmed distress mayday.

We’re told a call came in saying that a boat had run aground and was taking on water. The official could not say the precise time of the call in. WITN received word of a search around 5 this evening.

The official said he would update us as information becomes available.