HOMER, Alaska — The Alaska Dive Search and Rescue Recovery Team searched for the Maynard family for 10 hours off the coast of Homer, Alaska on Wednesday.
On Saturday, Aug. 3, David Maynard, 42, his wife Mary, 37, and their two sons, Colton, 11, and Brantley, 7, were aboard a 28-foot aluminum boat with four others when it capsized 16 miles west of Homer Spit around 7 p.m. The four others survived, but the Maynard's were never found, despite search efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The team searched three high probability sites and attempted to do a larger search but could not due to the winds, waves and high current speed. At the speed the boat needs to travel while towing the sonar (3-5 knots) the boat could not maintain a straight course of travel to allow for tight search grids and good coverage of the area, according to the team.
The team is heading back to Anchorage due to another storm approaching the search area. The team wanted to allow its members to go back to their paying jobs as well as be present to take their kids to school on the first day, according to their Facebook.
The Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team is a volunteer group that receives funding through donations. To date, they received $3,000 in donations to help replace their rescue zodiacs.
"Both were made in the 1980s and are no longer staying inflated. To replace both Zodiacs (without trailers or motors) is $60k plus shipping," the organization said. "Everything helps, no mater how large of small the donation."
All donations are tax deductible.
More information on how to support the group can be found here.
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