Father-son fishing trip to Oregon beauty spot to celebrate boy’s 11th birthday ends in heartbreaking tragedy
A father and son’s birthday fishing trip ended in heartbreaking tragedy when their boat capsized and the two drowned at sea.
Constantin Leahu, 43, and Andrei Leahu, 11, were on a fishing trip for the boy’s birthday near Astoria, Oregon, on Saturday when their boat capsized and the two disappeared, according to Fox 8 Live.
It was Andrei’s first fishing trip and his godmother, Irina Negrean, told the newspaper that he “would have loved to go with him” [Constantin] for a long time.’
“This was his dream come true: to go out on a fishing boat with his dad,” she told Fox 8.
The Leahus and three others were fishing on the boat when it capsized near the meeting point of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean, a rough stretch of sea, according to The Colombian.
Constantin Leahu, 43, and Andrei Leahu, 11, went on a fishing trip for the boy’s birthday near Astoria, Oregon, on Saturday when their boat capsized and the two disappeared.
It was Andrei’s first fishing trip and his godmother, Irina Negrean, told the newspaper that he “would have loved to go with him” [Constantin] for a long time’
Rescue teams were sent out to search for Constantin and Andrei, but they were unable to find the couple. The father and son were nowhere to be found and the search was called off at nightfall.
“I don’t think we have much hope at this point of finding them alive,” Negrean said. “So we’re trying to figure out what the next steps are.”
The coast guard was able to pull the other three from the ocean. One of the victims died en route to the hospital, the outlet reported.
Andrei, who made the trip the day after his birthday, still has his cake in the fridge, according to Negrean.
“It’s just a monumental loss, an unbelievable loss,” the family friend said.
Constantin was the sole breadwinner for the family of seven. He is survived by his wife, Elena Venera, and four daughters, Anamaria, Daria, Elizabeth and Melanie.
Andrei was their second oldest.
“He was the type of guy who would move heaven and earth to get something done if you asked him to do something,” Negrean told The Columbian.
The Leahus and three others were fishing on the boat when it capsized near the meeting point of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean, a rough stretch of sea
Rescue teams were sent out to search for Constantin and Andrei, but they were unable to find the couple. The father and son were nowhere to be found and the search was called off at nightfall.
The boy is known as sweet and loving, but also a little naughty.
The family was very involved in their church, the Romanian Orthodox Church of St. Mary, which GoFundMe for the family.
“Their loss and grief are insurmountable. We are raising money to help cover the family’s immediate and future needs, medical bills and other expenses,” said the fundraiser, which has raised $77,545 toward a goal of $250,000.
“Constantin’s sense of humor, selfless nature and unwavering faith in the goodness of God make him one of the most generous, loving and sincere friends we will ever know,” said Florentin Agoston, who launched the fundraiser.
“He was deeply committed to his faith, always willing to do what was best for everyone, and was a loving father and husband. He leaves behind not only a broken-hearted family, but an entire community that will never recover from such a loss.”
The church remembers the boy as “smart, funny and a social being.”
“Andrei was loved wherever he went,” Agoston wrote. “The loss of Andrei at such a young age has left us all shocked, heartbroken and devastated.”