The families of two 14-year-olds who went missing during a fishing trip said they are committed to privately searching for the boys after the Coast Guard called off its search Friday.
The Coast Guard and other government agencies had searched about 49,000 square nautical miles between Jupiter, Florida, and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, since Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen were reported missing July 24.
Coast Guard Capt. Mark Fedor, speaking at news conference Air Station in Opa-Locka, said there is little chance they will be found alive, according to a story in the Palm Beach Post.
The families said they are committed to continuing search effortsby renting private planes and boats, according to a statement. They also plan to continue raising money through fundraisers and a GoFundMe account, which has raised more than $400,000 according to USA Today.
The boys’ mothers — Pamela Cohen, Perry’s mother, and Carly Black, Austin’s mother — have been adamant that the teenagers would be able to survive the capsize.
A boat parade is planned for this evening from Jupiter to Juno Beach.
This post originally appeared here.
