RCMP divers recovered the bodies of two missing fishermen at the bottom of the ocean near their sunken boat off the coast of Prospect yesterday.
Divers found the body of Gerald Blackburn, 60, at 10:11 a.m. RCMP spokesman Cpl. Joe Taplin said he was located 12 metres away from the boat under 18 metres of water.
Gerry Blackburn, 29, was found at 12:40 p.m. in about 15 metres of water, nearly 230 metres away from the boat.
The father and son were last seen Tuesday at 6:45 a.m. when they headed out in their 25-foot lobster boat.
The Canadian Coast Guard was advised at 10 a.m. when the vessel’s return was overdue.
Taplin said the pair’s boat was found mostly intact in 18 metres of water near where searchers found the top part of the wheelhouse Tuesday morning.
Taplin said neither of the two men was found wearing immersion survival suits, which he said were on board.
The Coast Guard, Fisheries Department, military helicopters, search and rescue groups, local fishermen and kayakers searched for the pair Tuesday and yesterday.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Ron Chisholm offered condolences to the fishermen’s family.
“This is a tragedy and loss for our fishing industry and communities,” Chisholm said in a press release.
