Rescuers halt search for worker who fell from bridge

Rescuers have suspended the search for a worker who fell 15 to 20 feet into the water from the old Manns Harbor bridge Tuesday, the Coast Guard reported.

A Dare County 911 operator called the Coast Guard at 8:07 a.m reporting that the man had fallen in. A co-worker jumped in to help but was unable to recover him and was rescued by small boat. He was reported to have seen the missing worker go under and not resurface.

The missing man reportedly was working on painting the bottom of the bridge, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

Authorities suspended the search at sunset Tuesday after covering more than 300 square miles for 11.5 hours.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Elizabeth City and three Coast Guard rescue boats conducted the search. Helping were three Dare County emergency fire and rescue boat crews, a North Carolina Marine Patrol boat crew, two volunteer firefighter boat crews and a Dare County dive team