A sailor bound for North Carolina arrived safely in Bermuda on Thanksgiving Day after worried family members sparked a search by the US Coast Guard.

According to US media reports, Mark Carroll set out from Norfolk, Virginia, on the 42ft Ceol Mor on November 21.

However, fears about the 58-year-old’s safety were raised after communications halted the following day.

The US Coast Guard subsequently launched a search.

The US Coast Guard Mid Atlantic said in a Facebook post on November 25: “In total, six Coast Guard assets searched by air and by sea for more than 21 hours and covered an area of 28,372 square miles.

“They reported no sightings nor signs of distress.”

On the afternoon of November 24, the Coast Guard contacted Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre requesting any available information about the vessel.

A Department of Marine and Ports Services incident report said the US Coast Guard had searched without success using C130 aircraft, and contacted Bermuda in case the mariner altered plans to come to the island.

At about 5.30am on Thursday, Bermuda Radio were able to reach Mr Carroll, who said he had diverted to Bermuda because of weather conditions off the US East Coast.

“The single-handed sailor arrived safely into St George’s Harbour at approximately midday and was advised how much concern and effort had been made following his diversion and loss of communication with family members ashore,” the incident report added.