Avon Lake, Ohio – Authorities recovered the bodies of two brothers who had been missing on Lake Erie since Sunday, according to FOX 8 News.
Austin Labbe, 22, and Trent Sanchez, 19, were in the water near Bay Village’s Huntington Beach, near the break wall, when they were swept away by powerful rip currents, family members said.
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According to a news release, authorities recovered both brothers’ bodies between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
Officials told FOX 8 News that one of the brothers was discovered in the water near the Lorain-Cuyahoga border, and the other in Avon Lake.
Authorities told FOX 8 News that a 911 caller reported seeing something suspicious in the water near Lake Road and North Point Drive. Officers were dispatched around 1 p.m., according to authorities.
The search and recovery efforts lasted several days and included patrol boats, helicopters, drones, K-9s, a dive team, and rescue swimmers, as well as several local fire departments and the United States Coast Guard, according to the statement.
“Our hearts are with the families impacted by this incident,” Cleveland Metroparks Police Chief Kelly Stillman is quoted in the release. “I want to commend our officers, marine patrol and partner agencies for their tireless dedication throughout this around-the-clock search in challenging conditions.”
The National Weather Service warned swimmers on Tuesday to avoid Lake Erie due to dangerous rip currents expected from Wednesday evening to Thursday evening. The warning was issued after several people went missing on Lake Erie beaches over the weekend.
Earlier Wednesday, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office identified a 64-year-old man discovered dead in a lake near Edgewater Beach on Tuesday.
