The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a man who was swept into the ocean by a wave near Tank Beach on Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands.

Air and sea search lasted more than 50 hours before it was called off Friday evening.

The search for the 24-year-old man began Wednesday, with a Navy rescue helicopter reaching the area at 5:30 p.m.

The cutter Washington, a 110-foot Coast Guard patrol boat home-ported in Apra Harbor, Guam, was diverted to the scene to join the search.

Coast Guard officials say its crew deployed a self locating datum marker buoy that tracks sea conditions in order to establish a more accurate search area.

The Washington remained on scene until the search was suspended.