Authorities are desperately looking for a 7-year-old boy after his father and a household pal had been discovered useless in a bay the place the trio went boating close to Dauphin Island in Alabama Friday.
Little Hunter Slezak nonetheless hasn’t been recovered three days after he went out on his first shrimping journey on Pelican Bay along with his dad and a pal on a 22-foot vessel, authorities and household stated.
Coast Guard rescue crews discovered the our bodies of Michael Slezak, 40, and Sam Wooley, 69, amongst a particles subject Saturday about 9 miles south of the island earlier than suspending their search Sunday.
Now, the seek for Hunter will proceed solely by native authorities, the grieving household and volunteers.
“I just need the closure of having his body to bury. I didn’t think my heart could shatter anymore than this but not at least being able to find my son’s body is so incredibly painful,” Megan Slezak, the boy’s grieving mom and Michael’s widow stated in a Fb put up Sunday.
It’s unclear what occurred to the boat, however the household stated the three had been concerned in a boating accident.
Whereas the sheriff’s workplace was combing over the water, household and volunteers had been strolling alongside the shoreline in hopes of discovering the teenager, WKRG reported Monday.
“Hunter was such a sweet boy,” the boy’s aunt, Adrienne Migill, advised the station. “He just always had a smile on his face.”
Cell County Sheriff Paul Burch stated Monday that when the Coast Guard decided it was not a rescue mission, the federal company determined to finish their search. However the high cop vowed to proceed to make use of native sources to seek out the younger boy.
The shrimp boat has additionally not been recovered but, he stated.
Burch stated he spoke with a neighborhood shrimper who knew the opposite sufferer, Wooley, and who believes the boat might need capsized.
“And that Hunter may be inside the cabin,” he stated throughout a information convention.
“We do understand the mom wants her son recovered so she can say a proper goodbye,” Burch continued. “We will extend all resources that we have to help accomplish that.”
Earlier than the Coast Guard stopped its search, it scoured 2,042 sq. miles over 65 hours, the navy department stated.
“We are deeply saddened and offer our sincerest condolences to the families, friends, and communities affected by this heartbreaking and tragic incident,” Capt. Robert Tucker, of Coast Guard Sector Cell, stated in an announcement.
“Suspending an active search for a missing child is an exceptionally difficult decision and is only made after the most exhaustive efforts have occurred,”
Michael Slezak, who leaves behind 4 different youngsters and labored as a instructor and a coach at a neighborhood center faculty, known as his spouse about 3:30 p.m. Friday to inform her the trio was going to remain out one other hour due to all of the shrimp they had been catching, a member of the family wrote in a fundraising web page.
“The Slezak family is grieving the loss of their husband and father, and their precious only son and brother,” in accordance with the GoFundMe put up. “Michael and his spouse, Megan, had plans to dwell a protracted and full life on their farm.
“Now, those plans have been derailed, and Megan is trying to pick up the pieces and ensure her daughters’ needs are met for now and the future, all while grieving.”
