The search for a 7-year-old boy was suspended days after he and two other men went missing while on a boating trip in Dauphin Island, Alabama.
The US Coast Guard announced that the search for Hunter Slezak would be suspended after the bodies of Michael Slezak, 40, and Sam Wooley, 69, were located on Saturday.
“We are deeply saddened and offer our sincerest condolences to the families, friends, and communities affected by this heartbreaking and tragic incident,” said Coast Guard Sector Mobile Deputy Commander Capt. Robert Tucker.
“Suspending an active search for a missing child is an exceptionally difficult decision and is only made after the most exhaustive efforts have occurred.”
The Coast Guard and assisting agencies spent more than 65 hours combing over 2,000 square miles looking for the boy.
“Coast (Guard) is searching the rest of today until nightfall for my precious Hunter,” the boy’s mother said.
“After that, they are ending their search parties. If anyone can volunteer their boat or plane to help look today it would mean so much.”
Hunter was reportedly shrimping with his father, Michael, when tragedy struck, a fundraiser revealed.
“They were having the best day, catching big shrimp, and enjoying their time together. Unfortunately, they never returned home.”
