UPDATE: Body of overdue boater from Groton, Conn., recovered

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 1st District PA Detachment New York Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment New York Office: (212) 514-4291 After Hours: (917) 703-0983 PA Detachment New York online newsroom

UPDATE: Body of overdue boater from Groton, Conn., recovered

NEW YORK — The body of Matthew Lyon, 49, was recovered Saturday north of Great Gull Island, N.Y., after he was reported overdue from a boating trip in a 14-foot boat that started at the Groton Elks Lodge and Marina in Groton, Conn., at 2:30 p.m, Friday.

Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound watchstanders were contacted at 5:30 p.m. Friday by the Groton Police Department, who stated that Lyon's wife had reported him overdue.

Boat crews from Coast Guard Station New London, Coast Guard Station Montauk, the Coast Guard Cutter Coho and a Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew were launched to search the area, aided by multiple local law enforcement and rescue agencies. A Coast Guard HC-130 crew from Air Station Elizabeth City launched for a first light search Saturday morning.

The harbor tug Genesis Eagle located a body in the water two nautical miles north of Great Gull Island at approximately 9:47 a.m., which was recovered by Connecticut State Police at 10:29 a.m. The body was taken to Coast Guard Station New Haven in New Haven, Conn., where it was later positively identified as Lyon. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Other agencies who assisted in the search included:

• Groton County Police Department
• Groton County Fire Department
• Goshen Fire Department
• Taftville Fire Department
• Connecticut State Police Department
• Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
• Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police
• Electric Boat Security
• Tow Boat U.S.
• Stonington Harbor Master
• Southeast Marine Patrol (East Lyme)
• East End Marine Task Force
• Mystic Fire Department
• New London Police Department
• North Stonington Fire Department
• Old Lyme Fire Department
• Suffolk County Police Department
• Southold Police Department
• Waterford Fire Department

"We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Matthew Lyon,” said Capt. Eva Van Camp, commander of Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound. "This tragedy emphasizes the inherent dangers of marine activities, and we urge all boaters to take basic steps to ensure their safety before getting underway, including checking the weather, filing a float plan and wearing a life jacket. We're grateful for the effective coordination we have with our partner agencies which led to the quick recovery of Mr. Lyon's body."

-USCG-