Volunteer divers on Sunday removed a body from the missing scallop boat that sank last month off the Down East coast with a father and son aboard.
The Sudden Impact, the boat manned by Chester Barrett and his son, Aaron, who both lived in South Addison, sank on Jan. 18 as the fishermen braved bad weather trying to get home after a day of fishing near Edmunds Township.
The next day, rescuers located the sunken boat in 160 feet of water off Trescott. One body was located in the cabin of the boat a few days later. Since then, the Maine Marine Patrol has worked with the Maine State Police, volunteer divers and fishermen to remove it.
They did so around 7 a.m. Sunday, facing air temperatures of roughly zero degrees and extreme tidal currents, Marine Patrol Captain Colin MacDonald said in a statement. The recovered body was taken to the state medical examiner’s office for formal identification.
The second missing fisherman was not found near the site. The Marine Patrol will continue periodic patrols in the area to find him, MacDonald said.
MacDonald credited the Barrett family and the crew of volunteer divers, who are from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, for their role in the search effort.
“The outpouring of assistance from the community has been extraordinary, with individuals and businesses offering help in various capacities,” he said. “This overwhelming support is a testament to the strength, resilience, and unity of our coastal communities.”
