CORRECTION: The initial news release incorrectly stated that the rescued man was taken to the hospital. After he was rescued, EMTs evaluated and released him at the pier. He was not taken to a hospital. Additionally, the length of the vessel was incorrect in the first news release. The vessel is 18 feet long, not 22 feet as previously reported.
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Coast Guard ended its active search Monday evening for a man who went missing in Lake Erie Sunday afternoon.
Missing is Roger Burton, a 55-year-old man from Alliance, Ohio.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Burton’s family as they deal with this tragedy," said Capt. Joseph DuFresne, Coast Guard Sector Buffalo commander. "I am proud of the dauntless effort by the Coast Guard teams and our local and Canadian response partners, however, despite these efforts we were unable to locate Mr. Burton."
Rescue crews conducted 27 search patterns during the past 24 hours covering 134 square nautical miles.
At 4 p.m. Sunday, Coast Guard Sector Buffalo received a report of two people in the water about 1 mile offshore near Fairport, Ohio, after the 18-foot boat capsized.
A rescue crew from Coast Guard Station Fairport launched aboard a 45-foot response boat, arrived on scene and rescued one man who was sitting on the hull of the boat. EMTs evaluated and released him at the pier.
The rescued man said he lost sight of Burton when their vessel capsized.
Also searching were an Air Station Detroit crew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, a Coast Guard Auxiliary crew aboard a single engine Cessna, a Royal Canadian Air Force rescue crew aboard a CH-146 Griffon helicopter, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and Fairport Fire Department.