iStock/Thinkstock(BOSTON) — A boater who was recently rescued after spending eight days at sea in a life raft has finally arrived back on land in Boston, where he is expected to be reunited with family and friends and interviewed by the Coast Guard. His 54-year-old mother, Linda Carman, remains missing.

Nathan Carman, 22, was dropped off in Boston’s harbor Tuesday morning by a Chinese freighter called the Orient Lucky.

The freighter had been carrying Nathan Carman since Sunday, when he was found more than 100 nautical miles from Martha’s Vineyard, according to Coast Guard Petty Officer Nicole Groll.

It had been more than a week since the 22-year-old and his mother were reported missing by family and friends, Groll told ABC News.

Nathan Carman was found in a life raft with food and water. Linda Carman, however, was not in the raft and has been presumed dead, Groll said at a news conference Monday afternoon.

The Carmans, who are from Middletown, Connecticut, had originally set out on a fishing trip from Point Judith, Rhode Island, on Saturday, Sept. 17, and were reported missing the following day after failing to return, Groll said.

The Coast Guard performed an exhaustive search for the Carmans for six days, covering an area larger than Georgia, according to Groll. The search was suspended on Friday, Sept. 23, after the Guard failed to locate them, though a freighter located Nathan two days later.

After being rescued, Nathan Carman told Coast Guard officials that his 32-foot aluminum center console boat had taken in water sometime on Sept. 18, Groll said.

He also explained to officials that when he went to escape in the vessel’s life raft, he could not find his mother.

The Carmans’ boat sank near Block Canyon off the coast of New York, Groll said. She added that no mayday call had been made from the boat, though it was unclear if the vessel had a radio.

Coast Guard officials are hoping to get a “clearer understanding” of what happened to the boat Tuesday.

On Monday, family and friends hung yellow ribbons and signs on the Carmans’ home, ABC television affiliate WTNH reported.

Family friend Sharon Hartstein told WTNH that Linda Carman was a “momma bird” who would protect her son “at all costs.”

“I was thrilled that they found [Nathan], and then I was devastated that Linda wasn’t with him,” Hartstein said, adding that she and the family still hope Linda will be found.

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