Bodies of the two Fairport Harbor boating accident victims found

The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search Friday (June 5th) after the recovery of one body off Fairport Harbor.

A second body was found “by a good Samaritan” on Saturday (June 6th), also within the search area, said a Coast Guard spokeswoman.

The victim’s names have not yet been released.

The spokeswoman - Petty Officer Second Class Lauren Steenson – said on Saturday (June 6th) the cessation of the search and rescue operations was instructed about 8:50 p.m., Friday (June 5th), following an intensive operation.

Steenson said the search included the use of a helicopter from the Coast Guard’s Air Station Detroit, a 45-foot response boat operating out of the Coast Guard’s Station Fairport Harbor, a helicopter from the Canadian Air Force’s Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Trenton, Ontario, as well as elements with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Parks and Watercraft.

A report was received about 11 a.m., Thursday (June 4^th) of an overturned vessel located about four miles north of Fairport Harbor in Lake Erie, Steenson said.

Responding, the Coast Guard found the vessel with the only passenger being a dog that was huddling in the boat’s hold, Steenson said.

Using the boat’s Ohio registration numbers, the Coast Guard contacted a woman at the residence. Of the boat’s owner.

The woman said her husband and son had gone fishing in Lake Erie on Wednesday (June 3^rd) but had not returned, Steenson said.

Steenson said the father’s body was recovered Friday (June 5th) near Fairport Harbor and the son’s body on Saturday (June 6th), by a “good Samaritan.”

Also, said Steenson, the Coast Guard and the Ohio Parks and Watercraft agency were jointly working to recover the submerged pleasure craft.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

JFrischk@Ameritech.net

JFrischk4@gmail.com