Daphne Search and Rescue volunteers are filled with hope as they persist in their search for 7-year-old Hunter Slezak in Mobile, Alabama.
Little Hunter disappeared nearly three weeks ago following a boating accident off Dauphin Island involving his father, Michael Slezak, and family friend Sam Wooley.
Michael and Sam were discovered lifeless only a few miles away from the island. The whereabouts of Hunter, on the other hand, still remain unknown.
As a resident of Semmes, Gwen Pritchard shared with me her heartfelt response upon hearing this devastating story.
“It’s truly astonishing,” Pritchard exclaimed. “Being a mother and a grandmother myself, I can only imagine the heartache the mother must be experiencing.”
After an extensive search conducted by land, water, and air, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and other teams ultimately made the tough call to conclude their search for the young boy on Sunday.
Despite the challenges they face, the dedicated volunteers of Daphne Search and Rescue continue their relentless search for little Hunter, refusing to give up hope.
Daphne Search and Rescue Captain Joshua Gibbs expressed the importance of persisting in the search, citing past success stories of locating individuals who were previously lost.
“We, including myself, had members who were involved with the four children on Dauphin Island almost 20 years ago,” Gibbs shared. “We managed to locate all four of them, with the last child being found just off Louisiana in the Gulf. We strongly believe that with the right person in the right place at the right time, Hunter can be found.”
Crews have been conducting search operations to the west of Dauphin Island, as announced by Gibbs. Yesterday, Daphne Search and Rescue initiated search efforts from Pascagoula, Mississippi, and in the upcoming weeks, they will extend their search to the waters off Mississippi and Louisiana.
Pritchard expressed her solidarity with the community and many others across the nation who are keeping Hunter’s family in their thoughts and prayers. They all share the hope that one day, he will be safely returned home.
“We believe that God has a plan,” she expressed. “Through prayer and the assistance of these dedicated men and women, along with all the volunteers, we have faith that this little boy will be found.”
The MCSO, U.S. Coast Guard, and Daphne Search and Rescue are urging individuals who are out on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, spanning from Alabama to Louisiana, to remain vigilant and pay close attention to anything that appears to be unusual.