ROCKPORT, Mass. (WWLP) – Three fishermen were found dead by the Coast Guard on Thursday and one other person is still missing off the Massachusetts coast.
According to the Coast Guard Northeast, four people left Hampton, New Hampshire Wednesday morning to fish in a 17-feet center console boat. They were reportedly heading to fish near Jeffreys Lodge, approximately 10 miles off the Massachusetts coast.
On Thursday afternoon, the Coast Guard began a search for the fishermen and found an overturned boat roughly seven miles northeast of Cape Ann. No one was found near the boat.
Several hours later, crews found three “unresponsive” people in the area of the overturned boat.
- Jia Fu Zheng, 38, of Quincy
- Daxiao Lin, 43, of Quincy
- Jaime Liu, 42, of Litchfield, New Hampshire
Crews suspended the search for Bin “Michael” Cai on Friday after covering more than 1,567 square nautical miles in a total of 27 hours.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of these boaters.” said Capt. Amy Florentino, commander, Coast Guard Sector Northern New England. “The decision to suspend a search and rescue case is one of the most difficult decisions I must make, but we want the public and especially Mr. Cai’s family that we did everything in our power to find them. The water temperature in New England at this time of the year dramatically reduces the survivability rate for anyone that enters the water, and we urge all boaters to keep the air and water temperatures in mind when planning their voyages this spring.”
If anyone has any information that can assist the search crew, you are asked to contact Sector Northern New England at 207-767-0303.
