That’s the hope their families and friends say they’re holding onto as Coast Guard crews search for the 14-year-olds, who went missing on a fishing trip off the Florida coast about 12 miles south of Daytona Beach on Friday.
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The boys were last seen buying $110 worth of fuel at 1:30 p.m. and reported missing at about 5 p.m., according to the Coast Guard.
The capsized boat was found Sunday 67 nautical miles east of Ponce Inlet.
The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen after they did not return from their fishing trip in the vicinity of Jupiter, Florida.
The boat will be anchored in place while search-and-rescue efforts continue.
He told ABC News that a $100,000 reward has been issued for the teenagers’ safe return.
“It is not ruled out by any means whatsoever”, Pamela Cohen, Perry’s mother told the newspaper about the possibility of them being in the Bahamas.
The 14-year-olds disappeared Friday after heading out fishing on Austin Stephanos’s 19 foot Sea Craft boat – something the family says is not unusual for the pair.
The Coast Guard believes they were headed to the Bahamas because of post made on social media.
The family has taken vacations to the Bahamas on their boat.
Barney said people have been calling the Coast Guard station in Miami and offering to help, but the agency is discouraging civilians from participating in the search because of the dangers.
“As a mother the worst feeling ever is not knowing where your child is”, said Austin’s mom, Carly Black.
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“He’s always had an fantastic love for the water, an incredible respect for the water”, she said.
