Charlie Griffin, the famed veteran fisherman who appeared in the National Geographic TV franchise “Wicked Tuna,” has tragically died in a boating accident with his dog, Leila. The United States Coast Guard confirmed the devastating news. They revealed that Griffin and Leila were found deceased off the coast of Oregon Inlet in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Griffin was 65 at the time of his death.
Charlie Griffin and his pet dog Leila passed away in a shipwreck
The Coast Guard’s statement was released a day after Griffin’s official account on Facebook announced the captain’s demise. The post requested thoughts and prayers for Griffin’s family and friends. It also emphasized the indelible mark he left on the fishing community. “Please keep family and friends in your thoughts and prayers,” the post stated. “We will forever remember Griff.”
National Geographic and Pilgrim Media Group, the producers of “Wicked Tuna,” paid tribute to Griffin in a joint statement — per FOX News. They also clarified that the shipwreck was unrelated to the TV series. They described Griffin as a “spirited fisherman with a big heart” and expressed their condolences to his family and colleagues.
On Tuesday, the Coast Guard announced that members of its North Carolina Command Center were notified about two overdue boaters late Sunday evening. Griffin, accompanied by his dog and 36-year-old Chad Dunn, departed from Virginia Beach to Pirate’s Cove Marina in Manteo for repairs.
The search involved various agencies. These included the National Park Service, Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. However, after a 41-hour search, the Coast Guard decided to conclude the search for Dunn on Tuesday. North Carolina Coast Guard Deputy Commander Corrie Sergent expressed condolences to the families and friends affected by this tragic event. He emphasized the difficulty of the decision to halt the search.
“It is one of the hardest decisions to call off a search, and we offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends affected by this tragic event,” said Sergent.
