CONNEAUT, Ohio (WJW) — Coast Guard rescuers on Thursday, Aug. 13, said they currently have no plans to resume the search for a 73-year-old man who went missing on Lake Erie after his boat capsized Wednesday morning.
State rescuers, however, are continuing to search.
Family members identified the missing man as Rodney Nieman of West Virginia. His daughter provided FOX 8 News with pictures, and said her mother and another good friend were rescued from the capsized boat. But, her father remains missing.
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The three people had been fishing, according to family.
The search for Nieman was suspended Wednesday night, Aug. 12, after a day of looking for him. Authorities previously told FOX 8 News the search was expected to resume Thursday.
An Ohio Department of Natural Resources spokesperson told FOX 8 News Thursday afternoon that their watercraft is still actively searching the lake for sign of Nieman.
A Coast Guard spokesperson said Thursday that their search would not resume.
Agencies from all over helped in the search: a Coast Guard chopper from Detroit; search vessels from Fairport Harbor, Erie, ODNR and Conneaut; and a dive team from Ashtabula County.
Coast Guard crews searched 9 nautical square miles over the course of 7 1/2 hours, but suspended their efforts at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, according to a Thursday update.
“We would like to thank the community and over 10 agencies that have been searching for our precious dad and loving husband and the outpouring of love and continued prayers that he is located quickly so we can have closure,” Nieman’s daughter told FOX 8 News on Thursday.
The U.S. Coast Guard said just before 11 a.m. on Wednesday crews were notified that a boat had overturned on Lake Erie, nine miles off Conneaut. They said two of the three people on the 22-foot boat were picked up by a Good Samaritan in a passing boat.
Authorities told FOX 8 News two people rescued Wednesday were not injured and were taken back to shore. However, there has been no sign of Nieman.
Authorities said the two people who were safely rescued were wearing life jackets. They said Nieman was not wearing one.
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Longtime Conneaut residents, who have witnessed too many drownings on Lake Erie over the years, said a life jacket is a vital piece of equipment for any trip out on the water.
“You never know about Lake Erie,” said Cindy Sanford. “Lake Erie always turns on you and so you should always have a lifejacket on hand when you go out on the lake. Whether you’re fishing, or for pleasure or no matter what you’re doing.”
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