
NEW YORK (AP) — Authorities reported Monday that three individuals have lost their lives, while a fourth is presumed dead following the sinking of a boat off the coast of New York City. Two additional passengers were taken to the hospital for treatment.
The U.S. Coast Guard concluded its search efforts around 6 p.m. Monday after being unable to find 52-year-old Vernon Glasford from the Bronx, the last of the six individuals who were on board the Grady White vessel.
According to the Coast Guard, the 30-foot (9.1-meter) boat sank approximately 5 miles (8 kilometers) southeast of Breezy Point, Queens, after taking on water during a recreational fishing trip that began around noon on Sunday.
“We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Vernon Glasford,” stated Capt. Jonathan Andrechik, the commander of Coast Guard Sector New York. “The choice to halt a search is never an easy one. While our active search has concluded, our thoughts and support continue to be with everyone affected by this heartbreaking incident.”
The water temperature in the area where the search was conducted hovered around 38 degrees Fahrenheit (3.3 degrees Celsius).
The other passengers on the boat were rescued on Sunday. Coast Guard personnel located three of the individuals, while an air crew from the Coast Guard and a New York City police aviation team were able to recover the others. Unfortunately, four of the individuals were found unresponsive, according to the Coast Guard’s report.
The NYPD announced Monday morning that the hospitalized individuals were in critical yet stable condition.
The extensive search operation spanned roughly 842 square miles (2,181 square kilometers) over 30 hours, involving a combination of helicopters, aircraft, ships, and small boats, as stated by the Coast Guard.