A Texas couple and their two young children are missing after their boat capsized in Alaska over the weekend.
The missing family were identified as David and Mary Maynard and their children Colton and Brantley. The Anchorage Daily News reported that the children are 11 and 7 years old.
“The whole family, they were just sweet people. They were giving and loving people, and it’s just a horrible tragedy, a horrible tragedy,” said Christi Wells, Mary’s aunt.
The Coast Guard was notified around 7 p.m. Saturday that a 28-foot aluminum vessel with eight people onboard was taking on water near Homer, Alaska, a spokesperson said.
Officials notified vessels in the area of the situation by radio, and a boat was able to rescue four people on a life raft. Authorities began an immediate search for the missing group.
Alaska State Troopers and multiple good Samaritan vessel crews assisted the Coast Guard in searching for the family. After 24 hours, the search was called off Sunday.
“The decision to suspend a search is never easy and involves the careful consideration of many factors including environmental conditions and search operations. Our deepest condolences go out to the family, friends, and loved ones of the missing people during this unimaginably difficult time,” the Coast Guard said.
Wells said the family was in Alaska for her son’s wedding on July 27. She declined to say who else was on the boat with the Maynards.
She said the family has been a “wreck.”
“We’re just devastated,” she said. “It’s just awful.”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Source Agencies
