Search for missing Barrington boater called off

By: Melissa Randall

Mrandall@abc6.com

@MRandallABC6

The missing boater has been identified by a friend as Stas Antons. He's an accomplished tri–athlete who recently moved to Barrington. The URI alum was reported missing by family members Thursday after Antons went out on a small boat, but never returned home. An unmanned boat was recovered.

24–hours of searching later there was still no sign of the missing man. The efforts to find Antons were scaled back, and eventually called off around 6pm Friday, according to Barrington Fire Lt Owens. The boats will not go back out unless there is a new lead.

It's believed Antons went swimming after anchoring several hundred yards off Barrington Beach. The Coast Guard as well as state and local rescue crews searched for him by water, air and land.

"Between police and DEM they are certainly doing landside conversations and search– and are checking all avenues," said Chief Gerald Bessette of the Barrington Fire Dept.

"We've searched this area quite thoroughly, so as far as progress we're re–searching area's that we already covered," explained a official with the DEM.

Though the authorities have called off the search for now, the New England Search and Rescue group has not given up. They say they have spoken to Antons' family and received the go-ahead to continue looking, believing Antons is still out there. The volunteers say they will continue to search for weeks, if need be.

A Go Fund Me account has been created to help support the volunteer search going on for Antos.

(C) WLNE–TV 2015