Volunteers pick up search efforts for Barrington boater
By: Melissa Randall
@MRandallABC6
Reporting By: Rebecca Turco
@RTurcoABC6
Teams of volunteers are combing Barrington beach hoping to find a boater who has been missing since Thursday. Their efforts come one day after the Coast Guard along with state and local rescue crews called off their search for Stas Antons.
“We're just asking for help right now to find Stas,” explained Lori Teaken, Antons sister-in-law.
More than a dozen volunteers combed Barrington Beach Sunday. That’s the spot where the accomplished tri–athlete went out on a small boat two days ago, but never returned.
“It's nice to see the outpouring from everybody and people that know him, know of him, friends of friends, maybe swam with him, maybe did a triathlon with him, just people that connected with him,” said Teaken.
The coast guard and various rescue crews began a massive search Thursday. Officials believe Antons went swimming after anchoring several hundred yards off the beach. An unmanned boat was recovered, but by Friday evening the crews had called it all off.
“Being all over Narragansett Bay, they have limited resources so they can only expend so much on a search. And without any of those clues that they look for, they just don't continue,” said Christopher Monteiro of New England Search and Rescue.
Now the volunteer–run rescue group is picking up where they left off. They have two boats and a low–flying plane searching the area.
“We definitely know he's still out there somewhere, whether he's walking around on land confused or whether he's actually in the water, he's still out there. The hope is that he's alive,” said Monteiro.
A Go Fund Me account has been set up to help us raise money for search efforts. Nearly $700 had been raised as of Saturday evening. New England search and rescue is also looking for people to volunteer their time.
http://www.gofundme.com/stasantons
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