Hoboken kite surfer feared dead — Sandy Hook search called off

A search and rescue mission has been suspended a day after a 40-year-old Hoboken man disappeared in the waters of Sandy Hook Bay.

The missing kite surfer was identified Saturday afternoon as Sinisa Bjelajac.

He was last seen about 5 p.m. Friday by a boater who said Bjelajac was unconscious while attached to a kite in a harness near Horseshoe Cove.

The boater said he was pulling the surfer from the water when a gust a wind swept the kite line out of his hands, the Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard, working with Monmouth County, Atlantic Highlands, state and New York City police and fire crews, searched more than 150 miles of coast before calling off the search.

“Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we have to make,” said Commander Brian Murphy, the search and rescue mission coordinator for the Coast Guard Sector New York.

"After heavily saturating the area with Coast Guard and partner agency assets, we have suspended the active search. We will resume searching if any new information is obtained which would assist us in locating the missing kite surfer.”

Sergio Bichao is deputy digital editor at New Jersey 101.5. Send him news tips: Call 609-359-5348 or email sergio.bichao@townsquaremedia.com.