The family members of the brothers recognized them as Austin Labbe, 22, and Trent Sanchez, 19.
NEED TO KNOW
- Officials in Ohio have retrieved the remains of two brothers who went missing following a riptide incident on Lake Erie.
- The remains of Austin Labbe, 22, and his brother Trent Sanchez, 19, were found on Wednesday, August 20.
- They also retrieved the body of 64-year-old Jeffrey Williams, who had fallen into the water in a different incident on the same day the brothers disappeared, according to authorities.
Authorities in Ohio have retrieved the remains of two brothers who went missing after being carried away by a strong current on Lake Erie — as well as those of a 64-year-old man who accidentally entered the water in a different situation — according to law enforcement.
The Cleveland Metroparks Police revealed the findings and ended the search on Wednesday, August 20, following the discovery of the bodies of Austin Labbe, 22, and his brother Trent Sanchez, 19, within a short time frame, according to an ABC affiliate.WEWSreported. The older man, Jeffrey Williams, was found on Tuesday, August 19, according to the station.
The Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office confirmed his identity, NBC affiliateWKYC reported.
Labbe and Sanchez's mother, Tanya Labbe, statedCBS affiliate WOIOThe couple disappeared after entering the water at Huntington Beach in Bay Village, Ohio on Sunday, August 17, and were swept away by a rip current.
Their sister Angel Labbe, who has initiated aGoFundMe, described comparable situations, statingFox affiliate WJW, "They were up to their waists, they weren't too far out and they were carried away quickly."
Our hearts go out to the families affected by this event," said Cleveland Metroparks Police Chief Kelly Stillman, as reported by WEWS. "I would like to praise our officers, the marine patrol, and our collaborating agencies for their continuous efforts during this non-stop search under difficult circumstances.
During a press briefing, he mentioned that the lake's conditions were unsuitable for swimming at the time of the event, as the search was still in progress.
"Anyone who enters under those conditions is clearly putting themselves in danger," Stillman stated in a video posted by WOIO.
Never overlook a tale — subscribe now's free daily newsletterto remain informed about the top offerings, ranging from celebrity updates to engaging human interest pieces.
Several hours following Labbe and Sanchez being carried away over the weekend, Williams vanished after slipping from a dock, according to WEWS and WKYC.
We still aren't certain what happened or why he went into the water," said Metroparks Police Chief Kelly Stillman during the search, according to WKYC. "A Cleveland fireboat arrived quickly, managed to spot the man underwater and at the surface, but because of the lake's conditions, they couldn't get close enough to perform a rescue.