Search suspended after boat capsized between Staten Island and Queens. Here's what we know.
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search Monday night for a missing man after a boat capsized in the busy shipping channel between Staten Island and Queens over the weekend.
Police said five people were pulled from the waters off New York City on Sunday, before three were pronounced dead and the others were taken to Staten Island University Hospital. There has not been an update on their conditions.
Meanwhile, the search for 52-year-old Vernon Glasford was suspended Monday night after Coast Guard crews searched approximately 842 square miles over the course of 30 hours, using helicopters, ships, and planes.
A body washed ashore at Staten Island's Midland Beach on Monday afternoon, but it is not believed to be connected to the boat accident.
"He went fishing and he didn't come home"
Glasford's sister, Jenel Bobb, remembered him during the good times.
"He's very kind. He's very generous, funny, for the family," Bobb said. "The water is his sport. That's his favorite thing to do."
The vessel Glasford was on overturned in the Ambrose Channel near Breezy Point at around noon on Sunday.
"He went fishing and he didn't come home. That's all we know," Bobb said.
The tragedy has left Bobb with unanswered questions, and hanging on to the last memories she has of her brother.
"I saw him Saturday night. He said, 'I'm going fishing tomorrow.' That's his last words, 'going fishing tomorrow,'" Bobb said.
Coast Guard investigating the cause of the tragedy
Officials say six people were on board a 30-foot pleasure craft that set out on a fishing trip Sunday from a marina in Howard Beach, Queens. A distress call came in around noon, and the Coast Guard said it was able to trace a cellphone underwater to locate the capsized boat.
"The Sandy Hook pilots' boat that was actually offshore at the time located one person on the hull of the vessel," Capt. Jonathan Andrechik said. "Four others were recovered in the immediate area around the vessel."
The Coast Guard said it's too early to determine what caused the boat to capsize or whether those on board were wearing life jackets. Officials urge all boaters to take precautions, including wearing proper safety gear, carrying a marine radio and having flares on hand in case of emergency.
"It's the end of February. The water is very cold. Right now, we have temperatures of 38 degrees offshore. Those can be very dangerous conditions, especially for anybody who might be entering the water," Andrechik added.
Officials say a person may last about 10 minutes in water that cold before going into hypothermia.
Victim told wife winds were dangerous
One of the victims was 50-year-old Cecilio Adames, a loving husband and father.
"He's that man, and everybody will remember him as that man, because he always risked his life trying to help other people," said his daughter, Alisha Adames.
Wife Francisca Adames said she had reservations when her husband wanted to go out boating because of the weather. She said he told her the winds were dangerous when she called him later that morning.
The couple's daughter said she would occasionally go boating with her father, but opted not to on Sunday.
