The body of a 72-year-old man who went missing after Hurricane Ian wreaked havoc in Florida in late September was found in a boat that sank in Lee County waters, officials said Sunday. rice field.
The remains found Friday were positively identified as James “Denny” Hurst, who was last seen alive aboard the “Good Girl” yacht in the Fort Myers Beach area. Category 3 hurricane hypocenterLee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a Facebook post. That brings the county death toll to 75.
As of January 13th, 146 killed by Hurricane Ian Confirmed by the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family,” Marceno said.
Shortly after the announcement, people took to social media to send heartfelt messages.
Joshua Rubinek, a Fort Myers resident, wrote on Facebook, “I am very saddened. My condolences to the family and friends. There are no words of comfort for this terrible tragedy. bless you.”
Similarly, Punta Gorda resident Jackie Crone said: May they find comfort in him. Rest in peace Denny. ”
Chris Hetherington of Ohio said, “It’s sad, but I’m grateful that the family has finally found an answer and found some closure.” And he loved sailing and living in FMB (Fort Myers Beach) to the end.Prayers for his daughter and family.”
The Sheriff’s Department received a call Thursday from an employee at Salty Sam’s Marina, according to NBC 2. They found the wreckage of a ship they hadn’t noticed before., NBC 2 reported. Divers dived Thursday night and the boat was pulled out of the water the next day.
Authorities did not immediately release a cause of death.
Body of 82-year-old woman found
Hurst’s wasn’t the only body found this month.
January 10th, Debris removal company finds body of Ilonka Knes, 82, among the mangroves of the Fort Myers Beach Canal. At a press conference on Thursday, Marceno told reporters that his body was found less than two miles from his home and that he had been missing for about 100 days.
According to Marceno, her cause of death was accidental drowning caused by Hurricane Ian, and the coroner used dental records to confirm a positive identity.
Read more: 82-year-old man goes missing in Hurricane Ian.Florida police say her body was just found