The search for a Southwest Florida family missing in the Gulf of Mexico will continue, one day after search crews found one body Wednesday.
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Crews found the first body Wednesday at approximately 4:30 p.m., about four hours after locating a second kayak believed to belong to the family.
The family lived on the boat in Sarasota Bay and set out Sunday to Fort Myers to have the vessel repaired, The Associated Press reported.
Captain Gregory Case of the U.S. Coast Guard said there’s a chance the other three still missing are alive.
45-year old Ace Kimberly and his three teenagers headed south to Ft.
The debris found included items such as water jugs, tarps, six life jackets, a throwable life ring, a propane tank, a pair of shoes and a basketball.
Sadie Dilts, the teens’ aunt, told NBC 6 News in Miami that the Coast Guard recovered the body of Rebecca Kimberly. Myers where his brother would work on the boat.
#UPDATE @USCGSoutheast releases photo taken Saturday of missing family on their 29-foot sailboat. “They kind of kept to themselves, not too many people knew about them too much”, said Derek Sledjaski.
Late Wednesday, officials recovered one body who is yet to be identified. “This is still an active search”, Coast Guard Capt. Gregory Case said at a news conference Thursday, shortly before the second body was discovered by a Cape Coral Fire and Rescue crew, according to the Palm Beach Post.
Rescuers also found two kayaks that the family had been towing behind its sailboat found a body wearing a personal floatation device in the search area. “They’re all feeling what we’re all feeling – anxious, upset and hoping for the best”, he said.
Case would not confirm the identity of the body found during the search, but family member Sadie Ditts told a national news outlet that it was her niece, Rebecca Kimberly.
“His brother said he was experiencing rough seas and thunderstorms and he was anxious and he wanted his brother to send him some weather reports”, Case said. “We are continuing to keep in very close contact with the family and keep them updated on all developments during this hard time”.
“We still have hope”, a Coast Guard official said today, calling it a “dire” situation, but added, “We want to get out there and save them”.
Overnight, a response boat had witnessed a white flare in the area being searched. “That’s the last he heard of him”, said Case.
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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Air Force are also aiding in the search.
