Heartbreak as US Coast Guard 'suspends search' for missing Texas family after Alaska boat sinking

Search efforts have been called off by the US Coast Guard for a family of four who went missing following the capsizing of their boat near Homer, Alaska last Saturday. A relative has identified the lost family from Troy, Texas as Mary and David Maynard, and their two young sons Colton, aged 11, and Brantley, aged 7, as reported by Anchorage Daily News on Monday.

Representing Mary's parents, Christi Wells stated that the family cherished their moments with loved ones and traveling adventures . According to Wells, Mary, 37, worked as a traveling nurse while her 42-year-old husband David opted to care for their kids at home, managing a lawn care venture too.

Encompassing eight passengers, their 28-foot (8.5-meter) aluminum vessel began flooding on Saturday evening; this was relayed to the Coast Guard, spokesperson Travis Magee confirmed. With immediacy, the Coast Guard spread the word of the crisis to nearby ships, resulting in the timely rescue of four individuals by an adjacent boat.

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Despite an intensive search operation extending into Sunday evening, the attempt to locate the Maynards proved futile, and the mission was eventually halted, reports the Mirror US . Magee lacked detailed information about those rescued and pointed to an absence of concrete data on the sunken ship or the circumstances behind the mishap.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Shannon Kerney emphasized to KCEN-TV the justification underpinning any choice to suspend search activities: "Any time we make a decision to suspend a search and rescue case is a very difficult one to make. Cases that are suspended, they're only suspended pending the development of new information.

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"If anything comes to light, any new information that we get, we're more than happy and willing to go out and continue our search. Our hearts are definitely with the families right now as they grieve."

In a heartbreaking last message on Facebook, David posted pictures of Alaska, exclaiming: "After four days in Alaska, I FINALLY got to see my first bear! ! ! ! No picture can ever show just how beautiful this place truly is! ! ! ! ! ".

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