The search for the boss of surfwear retailer Boardriders, Pierre Agnes, has been suspended after his boat was found washed up on a beach in southwest France.
Boardriders owns the surfwear brands Quiksilver and Roxy as well as the snowboarding brand DC Shoes..
The search for the 54-year-old CEO, in the waters off the resort town of Hossegor, will resume early on Wednesday, France's Atlantic maritime authorities said.
Agnes had set off on a fishing trip at 7.30am on Tuesday in his 11-metre boat Mascaret III, according to a statement from the local prefecture of Landes quoted by local media.
He had radioed back to port authorities that he would return later than planned due to fog, the news agency AFP reported.
Four helicopters, including one Spanish maritime search-and-rescue helicopter, and four boats were involved in the operation, maritime authorities said.
Boardriders also owns the surfwear brand Roxy and the snowboarding brand DC Shoes.
The company said it was "devastated" by the news in a statement issued late on Tuesday, and said it was "concentrating on working with the local authorities on the search and rescue effort and supporting Pierre's family."
Former surfing champion Kelly Slater wrote on Instagram that he was "praying for a miracle."
"It's just starting to hit me what a profound effect this man had on my life and the surf community at large," he said.
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