Body of missing student in rowing club found after lightning strike in Lake Fairview
The body of a missing student who fell off a rowing team’s boat after lightning caused it to capsize on a lake in north Orlando Thursday was found Friday night, according to the Orlando Fire Department.
OFD spokesperson Jenny DeSantis said the body of the boy, a student at the K-9 Annunciation Catholic Academy in Altamonte Springs, was recovered at 5:15 p.m. by Orange County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit.
She said five rowers from the North Orlando Rowing club were in the boat when it flipped about 5:50 p.m. Thursday on Lake Fairview, near Fairview Shores Drive. When rescuers arrived, they found four of the rowers, one of whom had been injured and was taken to AdventHealth for Children. The fifth rower was missing.
At 3:05 p.m. Friday, search operations were temporarily suspended due to the weather, but continued shortly after.
“Agencies have been working together all night and through the morning hours to assist our Orlando Dive team in this search, including Orange County Fire Rescue, Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and Orange County Sheriff’s Office,” DeSantis said in a Friday afternoon update.
She said the Orange County Sheriff’s Office’s Marine Unit arrived about 5:30 a.m. and was using a pair of sonar-equipped boats to help in the search.
The current condition of the rower who was taken to the hospital was not available Friday.
Annunciation Catholic Academy in a Facebook post said the missing rower is a student there.
“Please pray for our student, missing in the tragic boating accident on Lake Fairview, and his family,” the school’s post said. “We also ask that you keep our community in your prayers as well. May we find comfort in the loving arms of Jesus and each other. We ask our Blessed Mother to pray for us during this difficult time.”
The rowing club posted a statement on its Facebook page about midday.
The rowers, their families and coaches of North Orlando Rowing are devastated,” the post said. “We are working through this as we always do, as a team. We don’t know all the details; when we know more we will share. We ask for privacy and respect during this difficult time.”