FOGO ISLAND -
The community of Fogo is mourning the loss of two residents after a weekend hunting trip turned into tragedy.
The victims have been identified as Derek Godwin, age 47, and Ralph Coles, age 50 - both of Fogo. They had left Fogo Island on Saturday morning in a 6.7-metre open boat to hunt turrs. The weather was poor at the time, with high winds and choppy water conditions.
After a lengthy delay in their return, family members contacted Fogo RCMP and filed a missing persons report.
A combined search and rescue effort began shortly after, including local fishermen, the RCMP, Gander Canadian Forces 103 Search and Rescue Squadron helicopter, a Coast Guard vessel Grenville based in St. John's, the Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel from Fogo Island and a vessel from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on Fogo Island.
The search and rescue effort became a recovery effort when vessels in the area located the bodies of the two deceased men, which washed up on the shore on Fogo Island, in the early morning on Sunday.
"One of the gentlemen was wearing a floater suit and a life jacket was recovered," said Fogo Island RCMP Corporal Steven Smith. "Currently, the bodies are in Gander undergoing examination by the medical examiner."
As of The Pilot deadline, the boat had not been recovered and the incident was still under investigation.
