Body of missing child found in Lake Fairview after boating accident during storm
ORLANDO, Fla. - Update: The Orange County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit said they have located a boy who went missing on Lake Fairview during Thursday's storm.
In a statement, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said, "We are incredibly saddened by this incident and appreciate the efforts of the multiple agencies who worked together over the past 24 hours to assist in the rescue, including Orlando Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Orange County Fire Rescue and Seminole County Sheriff’s Office."
Officials spent nearly a day searching for the missing boy from the air and in the water at Lake Fairview in Orlando, who had been missing since Thursday afternoon after a boat capsized during rowing practice.
Five middle school-aged children with North Orlando Rowing, a non-profit rowing club, were reportedly out on the lake for practice when their rowing boat flipped over, possibly due to a lightning strike nearby, according to the Orlando Fire Department.
The names of the children have not been released, and the current condition of the child at the hospital is not known.
"Please pray for our student, missing in the tragic boating accident on Lake Fairview, and his family. We also ask that you keep our community in your prayers as well," Annunciation Catholic Academy in Altamonte Springs, Florida, said in a Facebook post on Friday afternoon. The post did not name the student.
Several agencies were at the lake assisting in the search, including Orange County Fire Rescue, Seminole County Sheriff's Office, Orange County Sheriff's Office, Orlando Police Department, and Orlando Fire Department. Officials were also using sonar technology to search the lake.
""We believe that the vessel was capsized so we are searching off of that. We’re going back-and-forth," Orlando Fire Deputy Chief Ian Davis told reporters during a press conference.
In a statement on Instagram, the North Orlando Rowing Club said it was "devastated" and "working through this as we always do, as a team." According to the North Orlando Rowing Club's schedule, there were several practices happening on Thursday, including the JV team, varsity tv, and a middle school practice.
Friday afternoon, neighbors, team members, and other crews came to the area to pray and lay flowers at a makeshift memorial.
"I am a mother. I really hope that they find the body even though it’s not going to be a good find," said Lisa Pierce, a mother who stopped by to pray. "I just pray for comfort and peace."
FOX 35's Storm Team said there were about 17 lightning strikes reported in the area of Lake Fairview between 5:39 p.m. and 6:08 p.m. Officials said it believes the boat flipped over around 5:50 p.m. While the weather over the area was not considered to be severe – meaning no severe thunderstorm watch or warning at the time – there were storm clouds, rain, and thunder in the area.