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The incident began in Westport about 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22 when a boater traveling in the area of Cockenoe Island found a man standing on a navigational buoy, Lt. Eric Woods of the Westport Police said.
A second man and a woman were also rescued from the water. All three individuals were transported to a Norwalk Marina and subsequently to the hospital for evaluation.
An extensive search ensured for two additional boaters among choppy waters who disappeared after the boat sank, Woods said.
Around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 23, the Westport Police Marine Division located the sunken vessel near a buoy.
The search for the missing boaters continued throughout the day, and at approximately 4:30 p.m., the Westport Police Marine Division was notified of a body in the water around 3 miles Northeast of the sunken boat, Woods said.
A Bridgeport Fireboat was first on the scene and recovered the body from the Sound, Woods said. Bridgeport Fire returned to Bridgeport Harbor where they were met by Westport Police, the Connecticut Medical Examiner’s Office, and the family of the deceased man.
The man has been identified as Rockland County resident Juan Gabriel Valle Pineda of Spring Valley.
The body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for autopsy.
"Westport Police extend our sympathies to the family of the deceased and are hopeful of recovering the second missing person," Woods said.
As of 9 p.m., the search for the second victim, a resident of Suffern in Rockland County, had been suspended and will begin again on Tuesday, Oct. 24.
Westport Police are asking any boaters who were in the area of Cockenoe Island between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday to contact the Westport Police Department at 203-341-6000.
This continues to be a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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