Search efforts for a 7-year-old boy involved in a boating incident near Dauphin Island have been halted by the U.S. Coast Guard Mobile Sector.
The U.S. Coast Guard has called off the search for the 7-year-old boy who was part of a boating accident on Friday.
Rescue teams from the Coast Guard, along with partner agencies, conducted extensive searches by air and sea for approximately 65.2 hours, covering over 2,024 square miles.
According to a statement from the Coast Guard:
“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.”
On Sunday, the community rallied together to assist in the search for a 7-year-old boy who was part of a boating accident near Dauphin Island.
The bodies of two adults, Michael Slezak and Sam Wooley, were discovered on Saturday evening.
Hunter, the 7-year-old son of Slezak, remains missing.
On Sunday, the Coast Guard and Slezak’s wife called for volunteers with personal boats or planes to assist in the search efforts.
“I know he would’ve done the same thing for me,” Childhood friend, Jared Robinson said.
Robinson portrays Slezak as a remarkable companion, consistently wearing a cheerful smile.
Robinson took immediate action upon recognizing the necessity for additional oversight. He quickly reached out to his sole companion who owned a boat.
“We got two numbers from the Coast Guard. So, we started about eight miles south and then ran out another 10 miles past that. So, we just started grid searching from there and then on our way back we swung by Pelican Bay again and back through the jetties,” Boater, Blake Buxton said.
Robinson noted that the community came together on Sunday to assist with the search efforts.
