Search continues for father after rescuers find sailboat overturned
The bodies of two children were recovered
DOOR COUNTY, Wis. (WBAY) - Rescuers are continuing the search for a missing boater off Door County Tuesday morning. They were still searching as of Tuesday afternoon.
Monday they found the bodies of two young children and the sailboat they were on, capsized, in the Bay of Green Bay.
On Tuesday, authorities confirmed the children were wearing life jackets.
As we reported, Bill Salnik, 32, and his children went sailing from Oconto on Saturday. It’s believed they were headed to Riley’s Bay before storms hit.
A search began Sunday afternoon after they failed to appear at their destination, phone calls went straight to voicemail, and their truck and boat trailer were found at a boat landing.
Their sailboat was found capsized south of Chambers Island after daybreak Monday. The children were located about 5 hours later.
Agencies are searching by air, land, and of course water, in hopes of finding Salnik.
“Statistically from what I’m told, with the water temperature your survivability is up to 121 hours and we’re still within that window, so I mean we’re not giving up hope until absolutely and it’s necessary,” said Chief Deputy Patrick McCarty of the Door County Sheriff’s Office.
McCarty says crews are planning to search through the week.
“These are our busiest times of the year, so there are a lot of people out enjoying the recreational waters of Door County, so if someone does see something, please call. We want to follow up on any lead,” McCarty said.
Meanwhile, authorities are waiting for positive identification of the children’s bodies.
Authorities say they are paying close attention to the weather for this search, and say it dictates when they go out on the water.
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