Coast Guard to halt search for teen boaters

Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos, both 14, have been missing a week.

Capt. Mark Fedor says the search continues in the meantime and has been a “true all hands on deck effort”. When a line of summer storms moved through and the boys still couldn’t be reached, police were called and the Coast Guard search began.

“We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our families, friends, neighbors, colleagues, community, along with strangers from around the globe for your prayers and thoughts as well as all that have contributed to the Perry and Austin Rescue Fund to ensure the boys’ safe return”, the statement reads.

Fedor said the suspension means if new information comes to light, they will reopen the case.

U.S. Coast Guard announced at a press conference Friday they will suspend their search for the two missing teen boaters tonight at sunset.

Relatives have been holding out hope that several items missing from the boat, including life vests and a cooler, could be keeping them alive, the Sun Sentinel newspaper in Fort Lauderdale reported. While deputies continue the ocean search, online a fake fundraising site for the Morlock family was shut down today by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, after William’s family said they didn’t set it up. It has proven a frustrating ordeal, with no new clues since the teens’ capsized boat was located Sunday. However, it is expected the families will continue their efforts to locate their sons. His father, uncle and maternal grandfather have also been in airplanes helping the Coast Guard search.

The Coast Guard launched the search that would stretch on into an eighth day.

Even though the families insist the boys didn’t have permission to venture into open waters on their own, the Coast Guard received reports that indicate otherwise. “These boys are like mini-MacGyvers”, she said, referring to the inventive television character.

Nick Korniloff, the stepfather of Perry, addressed a horde of media outside his home on a quiet street in Tequesta, Florida, saying air searches led by private pilots would go on alongside new efforts led by former members of the military and others with special training.