MOBILE, Ala. (WALA/Gray News) – The Coast Guard suspended its search for a 7-year-old boy who went missing after a boating accident in Alabama.
The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Flotilla however has continued searching for Hunter Slezak.
Sheriff Paul Burch said deputies are using boats, ATVs and horses to find the boy.
According to a Facebook post by the Coast Guard, crews searched for more than 65 hours and covered more than 2,042 square miles, approximately the size of Delaware.
“Suspending an active search for a missing child is an exceptionally difficult decision and is only made after the most exhaustive efforts have occurred,” said Capt. Robert Tucker, Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Deputy Commander.
On Friday, Hunter, his father Michael Slezak, 40, and Sam Wooley, 69, went shrimping.
When they did not return to shore, law enforcement began searching for Hunter, Slezak and Wooley.
On Saturday, officials said they located a debris field nine miles south of Dauphin Island and recovered the bodies of Wooley and Slezak.
The Coast Guard found debris including life jackets, a five-gallon ice-cream bucket, a bull horn and clothing items.
A GoFundMe has been created to help the family.
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