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John DeJonge, 40, stays lacking after his boat capsized on an Alabama river on Feb. 15
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An grownup male and his 2-year-old son, who had been additionally on the boat, survived
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Because the search continues for his whereabouts, his sister-in-law Alysia DeJonge tells PEOPLE that John, who labored in building, cherished his two children
The household of John DeJonge, an Alabama man who has been missing for almost a week after the boat he was on capsized in a river, are nonetheless holding out hope for closure.
“We’re effectively conscious that he’s in all probability now not with us,” sister-in-law Alysia DeJonge tells PEOPLE. “However we want to recuperate his physique to have the ability to give him a correct service.”
On the night of Saturday, Feb. 15, three individuals — recognized by family members as DeJonge, his buddy, and his buddy’s two-year-old youngster — had been on a ship in Alabama’s Blakely River simply north of the causeway, the Spanish Fort Police Division mentioned in a news release.
After the boat capsized round 6:00 p.m. native time, all three people fell into the water. However whereas the opposite grownup and his son had been capable of make it again to the shore, DeJonge, 40, stays lacking.
Earlier than leaving for the boating tour, DeJonge had been at residence with Alyssa and her husband Paul, who’s DeJonge’s brother, Alyssa tells PEOPLE.
About two hours later after leaving her residence, Alyssa says her husband obtained a telephone name from the surviving buddy’s mom, who advised them there had been an accident and she or he was on her technique to the hospital.
Alysia and Paul instantly drove to the causeway. “As quickly as we’re pulling up, we see ambulances and hearth vans and boats making an attempt to exit,” she says.
Courtesy of Alysia DeJonge
John DeJonge
From what Alysia later discovered, the group went out for a check drive on the boat, which belonged to DeJonge’s buddy, however after they had been a few mile away from the shore, one thing went fallacious.
“The motors stop working,” says Alysia. “They determined they had been going to show round and return at that time, they usually tried to get it going once more.”
Nevertheless, she says the group continued to have points with the motor, which lower out a number of occasions on the best way again.
At one level, whereas making an attempt to work on the motor on the again of the boat, Alysia says they “realized the boat was taking over water” — and whereas the kid was sporting a life jacket, the adults weren’t.
“As soon as they noticed that it was taking over water, they began pulling out the life jackets and a wave hit the boat and flipped it,” she provides.
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Based on Alysia, the buddy was capable of rescue his son and float in direction of the shore on a chunk of the boat, the place he was capable of flag a automobile down.
“The little boy was hypothermic and needed to be hospitalized for twenty-four hours, however he is high-quality,” she says.
However DeJonge, who was not a superb swimmer in accordance with his sister-in-law, stays lacking.
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Together with authorities, DeJonge’s household has been concerned within the seek for their cherished one and publicly sought the assistance of volunteers.
“There’s numerous feelings,” she says. “It is onerous to come back to phrases with this, however it’s a tragic accident and it may occur to anyone.”
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Courtesy of Alysia DeJonge
John DeJonge (C)
Alysia says that DeJonge — a father of two youngsters, ages 8 and 11, who resides in Daphne, Ala. — has been coming to the house the place she and Paul dwell every single day for dinner for almost three years.
“He loves his children,” she says of her brother-in-law. “He is a beautiful, great man. He’ll assist anyone.”
Though he stays lacking, a GoFundMe has been established to assist elevate funds for his memorial.
“He did not have life insurance coverage,” Alysia says of her brother-in-law, who labored in building. “Anything would principally go to assist out the kids. He lived along with his dad and mom they usually break up lease. So [it’s] to assist them a little bit bit to get them going.”
As DeJonge’s household awaits phrase about their cherished one, Alysia affords one main takeaway from the ordeal. “All the time put on your life jacket,” she says.
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