GLOUCESTER MASS, Officials have identified the seven people who died aboard the Lily Jean, a commercial fishing boat that went missing 25 miles off the coast of Cape Ann last week.
Authorities named the crew members as Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo, Paul Beal Sr., Paul Beal Jr., Josh Rousanidis, Freeman Short, Sean Therrien, and Jada Samitt.
The U.S. Coast Guard launched a search and rescue mission early Friday after receiving an alert from the 72-foot Lily Jean approximately 25 miles offshore near Cape Ann.
Search crews later located a debris field near the area where the alert was sent, along with one body in the water and an empty life raft, according to the Coast Guard.
Gloucester’s mayor issued a statement reflecting on the loss, saying, “Fishing is the heart and soul of Gloucester. Everyday fisherman risk their lives facing treacherous conditions to provide for their families in order to feed our collective family.”
The mayor added that the city has endured similar tragedies before and emphasized that Gloucester remains a strong and resilient community that will unite in support of those affected by the devastating loss.
