WINDSOR – The Bertie County Sheriff’s Office continues its search for a Pennsylvania man reported missing off a tugboat operating on the Chowan River.

Bertie Sheriff Greg Atkins said yesterday (Monday) that his officers continue to scour the banks of the river, searching for 24-year-old Aaron Drew Kahill who apparently fell overboard on Jan. 2 as the tugboat made its way south.

The Sheriff reported the last time anyone aboard the tug saw Kahill, the boat was in the approximate area of Colerain.

&uot;(Kahill) was not reported missing until the tug had traveled south of the Eden House (US 17) bridge,&uot; Atkins said. &uot;The captain of the boat contacted the Coast Guard and they responded with a helicopter to aid in the search.&uot;

The Sheriff said his office as well as the Chowan County Sheriff’s Office was summoned to launch a search of the banks along both sides of the river. Atkins reported that a pair of boots, gloves and hearing protection (headphones), later identified as belonging to Kahill, were found later in the day on Jan. 2 in the Mt. Gould area of the river, approximately 5.5 miles south of Colerain.

The tugboat had left the Nucor Steel Plate mill in Hertford County prior to Kahill apparently falling overboard.