NEW YORK - Coast Guard, and partner agency crews ended their search for a missing boater, Wednesday, after a body matching the boaters description was located in the vicinity of East Beach in Old Field, New York.
At approximately 11:30 a.m. Suffolk County Police Department officials located the body of James Bilello, a 73-year-old boater in the vicinity of East Beach.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and families of the two men who perished yesterday in Long Island Sound," said Capt. Andrew Tucci, commander Sector Long Island Sound. "We are grateful to the emergency responders from Suffolk Marine Police who assisted in the search efforts.”
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound received a report of a capsized 19-foot recreational fishing vessel near the Port Jefferson Harbor entrance at approximately 3:30 p.m., Tuesday.
A Coast Guard Station Eaton’s Neck boatcrew were immediately launched to respond. Shortly after arriving on scene, the boatcrew discovered an unresponsive man in the water near the capsized vessel. He was recovered from the water and transferred to Suffolk County officials.
Suffolk County officials went to the Port Jefferson’s Harbor boat ramp and located a truck and a trailer registered to two different men. After contacting the owners of the parked truck and trailer, it was determined that two men left the boat ramp in the 19-foot vessel to go fishing Tuesday.
Agencies and assets involved in the 19 hour search for Mr. Bilello were:
- An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Cape Cod
- An HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft from Air Station Cape Cod
- A Coast Guard Station Eatots Neck smallboat crew
- A Coast Guard Station New Haven smallboat crew
- Coast Guard Cutters Penobscot Bay
- Coast Guard Cutter Tiger Shark
- Suffolk County Marine and Air Units
- Suffolk County Police Department