Three people have died and a fourth person is presumed dead after a boat sank during a fishing trip off the coast of New York City. A 52-year-old man, Vernon Glasford, from the city’s Bronx area, remains missing after the 30-foot Grady White fishing vessel went down around five miles southeast of Breezy Point, Queens.
Two people have been hospitalised, the US Coast Guard reported. A search for Mr Glasford was called off at around 6pm on Monday (11pm UK time), amid fears he is also deceased. Authorities rescued five people from the water after the boat took on water and sank on Sunday afternoon. The US Coast Guard and New York City police recovered the survivors.
Captain Jonathan Andrechik, commander of Coast Guard Sector New York, expressed his condolences to Mr Glasford’s loved ones, stating: “We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of Vernon Glasford. The decision to suspend a search is always difficult. Though our active search has ended, our support and sympathy remain with all those impacted by this tragic incident.”
Mr Glasford’s sister, Jenel Bobb, said, “It does not feel real. If I see a body, then it is for real, but for now I don’t know.”
Cecilio Javier Adames, a 50-year-old tourist from the Dominican Republic, was among those confirmed dead, reports the Mirror. Edwin Morel, a close friend, paid tribute by saying: “There’s no words to describe him. He was a wonderful human being inside and out. Everyone loved him. There’s not one person that would say anything negative about him.”
While New York City police have yet to confirm the identities of the two other fatalities, the freezing conditions at the scene have been noted, with water temperatures reported to be around 3C. Those rushed to hospital are still in critical condition, according to the authorities. The exhaustive search spanned over an area of roughly 842 square miles and continued for 30 hours, utilising the combined efforts of helicopters, planes, ships and small boats.
