*The previous two releases regarding this search contained critical errors in fact. The releases incorrectly stated Saturday rather than Sunday, and Sunday rather than Monday. This is the correct, updated version. All previous versions will be unpublished.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard and Virginia Marine Resources Commission concluded their search for an 80-year-old man Monday in the water near Winter Harbor Haven.
A grandson of the missing man located his grandfather's body Monday in the water near Winter Harbor while searching less than a quarter mile from where the boat was initially discovered. The man's name is being withheld until next of kin notifications are complete.
The man is thought to have entered the water when his fishing vessel capsized near Winter Harbor while he was gill net fishing Sunday.A good Samaritan discovered the man’s 15-foot boat capsized Sunday about 200-yards off the beach east of Winter Harbor and notified Mathews County dispatchers, who then notified the Coast Guard and VMRC at approximately 8:20 p.m. A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew launched from Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey, and a 25-foot Response Boat-Small (RBS) crew launched from Coast Guard Station Milford Haven. Both Coast Guard crews, along with VMRC vessel and shore crews, searched Sunday into Monday morning.A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City and a 25-foot RBS crew from Station Milford Haven continued the search Monday, along with VMRC, the man's family, and good Samaritan vessels and shoreline search crews.The man’s family said he left to go gill net fishing Sunday by himself at approximately 4 p.m. He is believed to have been fishing alone at the time his vessel capsized.