MOBILE, Ala. -- The Coast Guard suspended its active search for one missing boater, Sunday evening, after locating and recovering two boaters deceased south of Dauphin Island, Alabama.
Missing is Hunter Slezak, 7. Rescue crews from the Coast Guard and partner agencies searched by air and sea for approximately 65.2 combined hours and covered more than 2,042 square miles, approximately the size of the state of Delaware.
Friday evening, watch standers from Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a report of an overdue vessel, the MARTY ANN, with three people on board. Coast Guard Sector Mobile Command Center issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and directed the launch of an Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 aircrew and a Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island response-boat medium boat crew to begin searching. The vessel reportedly departed from the Billy Goat Hole Boat Ramp on Dauphin Island and was last heard from on Friday afternoon.
Saturday afternoon, a Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island boat crew found a debris field approximately 9 miles south of Dauphin Island. The boat crew searched the area and located Sam Wooley, 69, and Michael Slezak, 40, deceased.
“We are deeply saddened and offer our sincerest condolences to the families, friends, and communities affected by this heartbreaking and tragic incident,” said Capt. Robert Tucker, Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Deputy Commander. “Suspending an active search for a missing child is an exceptionally difficult decision and is only made after the most exhaustive efforts have occurred. We thank all the search and rescue crews who worked with determination around the clock with hopes of a different outcome.”
Rescue crews involved in the search:
• Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile
• Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans
• Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island
• Coast Guard Cutter Ridley
• Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
• Dauphin Island Police Department
• Mississippi Wing - Civil Air Patrol
• Lower Alabama Search and Rescue
• Multiple good Samaritan boaters
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