At least three dead after fishing boat sinks in NY harbor, officials say. One missing
UPDATE: The Coast Guard suspended its search for 52-year-old Vernon Glasford at about 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, after searching approximately 842 square miles over a 30 hour time period, according to a news release.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of Vernon Glasford,” Capt. Jonathan Andrechik, Coast Guard Sector New York commander, said in the release. “The decision to suspend a search is always difficult. Though our active search has ended, our support and sympathy remain with all those impacted by this tragic incident.”
The original story is below.
Authorities say they are searching for a 52-year-old fisherman after a boat capsized in a New York harbor, killing at least three and injuring two others.
Rescue crews were dispatched after 12 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23 when the New York Coast Guard Sector was notified by emergency operators about a boat sinking near a neighborhood at the tip of Queens’ Rockaway peninsula, according to a Feb. 24 U.S. Coast Guard news release.
A total of five people were found and taken to hospitals, with four of the five being unresponsive, authorities said. At least three have died as of Feb. 24, WNBC reported. Names of the deceased have not been released.
Authorities identified the missing person as Vernon Glasford, who “was last seen wearing a gray hoodie, blue jeans, and black boots.”
Glasford’s cousin, David, described him as a frequent fisherman and a “hardworking father” of three, ABC News reported.
“We don’t know what to think. We just know that he’s missing,” David Glasford told the outlet.
According to the Coast Guard, the 30-foot-long Grady-White vessel left Howard Beach in the morning for a recreational fishing trip with six passengers. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
The water temperature in the search area as of Feb. 24 was about 38 degrees, authorities said.
This story was originally published February 24, 2025 at 5:42 PM with the headline "At least three dead after fishing boat sinks in NY harbor, officials say. One missing."
