An Alabama mother is mourning the loss of her husband and likely son, both of whom went on a boat to go shrimping and never returned.
Michael Slezak, 40, his seven-year-old son Hunter and avid fisherman Sam Wooley, 69, were aboard a 20-foot vessel that set sail from Dauphin Island, a small patch of land off the coast of Alabama.
Megan Slezak, Michael’s wife and mother of his five children, including Hunter, last had contact with the boat on Friday at 3:30 p.m. Apparently the group wanted to stay another hour because they caught so many shrimp.
According to the US Coast Guard, the three people and their boat ‘Marty Ann’ went missing that night around 7 p.m.
On Saturday afternoon, the Coast Guard found the wreckage of the boat nine miles south of Dauphin Island. It came after they searched for a combined 65.2 hours by air and sea, covering more than 2,042 square miles, about the size of Delaware.
Searchers also found the bodies of Michael and Sam at this location. Hunter was not found but is presumed dead.
After the heartbreaking discovery was made, the Coast Guard announced Sunday it would suspend the search for Hunter.
“We are deeply saddened and extend our sincere condolences to the families, friends and communities affected by this heartbreaking and tragic incident,” said Capt. Robert Tucker, deputy commander of Coast Guard Sector Mobile.
Michael Slezak, 40, was found dead in the rubble field of the 6-metre ‘Marty Ann’ after going shrimp fishing
Hunter Slezak, 7, is Michael’s son. He was on the boat with his father and is presumed dead, although his body has not been found by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Megan Slezak is pictured with her son Hunter. Megan was not on the boat trip
“Suspending an active search for a missing child is an exceptionally difficult decision and is only made after the most exhaustive efforts have been made. We thank all the search and rescue crews who worked around the clock with determination in the hope of a different outcome.”
Before the search was suspended, Megan took to Facebook on Sunday and begged anyone with boats or planes to help in the search for her son.
‘I just need the closure so I can bury his body. I didn’t think my heart could break any more, but it’s so incredibly painful not to at least be able to find my son’s body,” Megan wrote. “This is THE WORST pain ever.”
Her sister, Adrienne Magill, started one GoFundMe for the grieving family to cover funeral costs and other expenses. Megan has four other daughters.
Magill revealed that Michael and Megan lived on a farm and planned to “live a long and full life.”
The fundraiser has raised more than $33,000 toward a $250,000 goal as of late Monday afternoon.
Michael is also mourned by students and faculty at Semmes Middle School in Mobile County, Alabama, where he was a teacher and baseball coach.
“Coach Michael Slezak was a beloved teacher and coach who touched so many lives with kindness, wisdom and dedication,” the school wrote on social media.
Michael is pictured in a Semmes Middle School baseball uniform. He was a coach and teacher at the school in Alabama
Michael is pictured with his wife, four daughters and son Hunter
Sam Wooley, 69, was the third victim aboard the capsized vessel. He was an avid fisherman and shrimper
“Coach Slezak inspired our students to become better scientists, better athletes and better individuals. Through every lesson he learned, every practice he led and every word of encouragement, he made an impact on our community.”
Jared Robinson, a childhood friend of Michael’s, was among those who responded to his wife’s pleas for help finding her loved ones. WKRG reported.
“I know he would have done the same for me,” Robinson said. “Michael is as good as it gets. He would do anything for you, had no enemies, always a smile on his face. Always a good friend.’
Robinson called his friend Blake Buxton, who has a boat, and they started searching.
‘We received two numbers from the Coast Guard. So we started about eight miles south and then ran another 10 miles,” Buxton said. ‘So from there we just started looking for the grid and on the way back we went past Pelican Bay and back via the jetties.’