One person dead and another missing after boat found spinning in circles off California coast

One person is dead and a man is missing after an unmanned boat was found spinning in circles off the northern California coast on Sunday afternoon.

Local media reports the 5.1 metre vessel was spotted on Sunday afternoon about 400 metres away from the shore, off the Half Moon Bay coast which is west of San Francisco.

An unresponsive person – who has not been identified – was pulled from the water however Coast Guard officials understand that two people were on the boat.

Crews have hunted for the missing man but the search has since been called off.

The identity of the dead person is yet to be revealed but there is nothing to indicate suspicious circumstances, according to the San Mateo Country Sherriff's Department.

An investigation into what happened is ongoing.