Physique of man lacking since Hurricane Ian discovered on sunken boat

The physique of a person who was reported lacking after Hurricane Ian hit Florida’s Gulf Coast final yr has been recovered from a sunken sailboat, sheriff’s officers stated.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Workplace stated Sunday the stays have been recognized as James “Denny” Hurst, 72, who was final identified to be aboard the sailboat “Good Woman” because the class 4 storm hit the area in late September.

The boat was recovered Friday afternoon within the Matanzas Cross space of Fort Myers Seaside, Sheriff Carmine Marceno stated in a social media submit.

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Hurst had informed his household he deliberate to journey out the storm on the boat, officers stated.

Earlier Friday, the sheriff introduced {that a} crew clearing particles within the mangroves additionally discovered the stays of 82-year-old Ilonka Knes. She had been reported lacking in early October.

Officers recognized Knes by means of dental information, the sheriff stated. The physique of her husband, 81-year-old Robert Knes, was discovered shortly after the storm struck.

Hurst and Knes have been the 2 remaining individuals who had been reported as lacking in Lee County after the hurricane, Marceno stated. He added that he hopes their households will now have some closure.

Earlier than the invention, the Florida Medical Examiners Fee on Tuesday reported 145 confirmed deaths within the state from Hurricane Ian. It will add to that whole.

There have been additionally 5 folks killed in North Carolina, one in Virginia and three in Cuba, authorities stated.