Search team find body of 88-year-old fisherman whose boat capsized in Galveston Bay during storms
The body of an 88-year-old Chambers County fisherman was found Tuesday afternoon in Galveston Bay after his boat capsized in rough waters, officials said.
Authorities found the body of WF Childress near the Texas City Seawall after a day-long search for the missing boater, according to Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne.
The sheriff’s office launched a search for the fisherman late Monday with the help of the U.S. Coast Guard, Texas Parks and Wildlife and other local law enforcement agencies.
OTHER NEWS: 4 people injured in boating accident west of Houston
Childress launched his vessel from Smith Point around 8:30 a.m. Monday and headed for the Anahuac Channel to “go shrimp fishing,” the sheriff said. But he had not returned by nightfall.
Storms rolled through the Houston area this afternoon and evening. Galveston received more than an inch of rain and the National Weather Service warned of dangerous swimming conditions, high waves along the beaches and strong rip currents.
The search team found the fisherman’s vessel – a 16ft aluminum sport trawling rig – in the bay at noon on Tuesday, and hours later located his body about 10 miles away, according to the sheriff.
ENVIRONMENT: How even the smallest parts of the massive Ike Dike plan will impact Galveston
Childress was wearing a life jacket and had no visible signs of trauma, Hawthorne said, but the Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office will perform an autopsy.
“Mr. Childress was an experienced boat operator and fisherman who obviously couldn’t find shelter during yesterday’s storm,” the sheriff wrote in a Facebook post. “Prayers to him, his family and friends for this tragic loss.”
ON THE ISLAND: Galveston business owners say city marshal is bullying them, point to viral video as evidence