Tragedy on the Water: Two Found Dead After Boat Crash in New Haven Harbor
NEW HAVEN, CT – A heartbreaking maritime tragedy unfolded off the Connecticut coastline this week, as U.S. Coast Guard officials confirmed the discovery of two deceased individuals aboard a submerged vessel in New Haven Harbor late Thursday night. The victims, identified as 64-year-old Cynthia Ferk and 67-year-old Floyd Maxson, both of Stratford, were reported missing after embarking on a boating trip that ended in disaster.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the pair were last seen Wednesday evening after dining at the waterfront restaurant Shell & Bones. The couple reportedly set off from the area on a 27-foot Sea Hunt boat, heading between Stratford and Norwalk, a familiar route for experienced boaters. However, tragedy struck when their boat crashed into the west break wall of New Haven Harbor—an impact so severe it left the vessel partially submerged beneath the water.
A major search and rescue operation began when family and friends alerted authorities that the two had not returned. The Coast Guard tracked a cellphone belonging to one of the victims, which last pinged at 9:40 p.m. Wednesday near the break wall. That critical data point helped narrow the search location and led crews to the area the next day.
After nearly 24 hours of uncertainty and growing fear, the bodies of a man and a woman were located in the vicinity of the crash, tragically found without life jackets. Both victims were recovered from the water and rushed to the West Shore firehouse, where they were pronounced dead.
The grief has reverberated throughout the shoreline communities of Stratford, New Haven, and West Haven. For locals, the harrowing discovery has transformed what should have been a peaceful summer week on the water into one marked by mourning.
“This is such a sad and awful tragedy,” West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer said in a public statement. “Our collective hearts in West Haven go out to the loved ones of those who sadly lost their lives in this heartbreaking accident.”
Eyewitnesses in the area recounted the somber atmosphere on Thursday night. “It’s terrible to see the two people didn’t make it, I had hoped they’d make it,” said Anthony Marini, who watched as emergency responders swarmed the harbor. “All I saw was vehicles, I didn’t see anything on the water, I didn’t know what was happening at all,” added Patricia Buers, who lives across the street from Dawson Avenue Beach.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s EnCon Police have taken the lead in the investigation, with support from the Coast Guard and local marine units. The boat, still submerged as of Friday, remains at the crash site. Crews have continued efforts to remove debris from the water and assess any environmental hazards from fuel or materials on board.
Officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the crash, but marine experts note that the west break wall can be particularly dangerous at night or in low-visibility conditions, especially if a vessel is traveling at high speeds or if navigational equipment malfunctions.
Neither Ferk nor Maxson was wearing a life jacket at the time of the crash—a fact that has reignited conversations around boating safety and the need for better education and enforcement regarding personal flotation device (PFD) use, even for experienced boaters.
Friends and neighbors of the victims remember them as warm, adventurous individuals who loved the water. “Cynthia and Floyd were full of life and spirit,” a family friend shared. “They were just out enjoying a summer night, doing something they loved. It’s unthinkable how it ended.”
As recovery and investigation efforts continue, the community has come together in shared sorrow. Flowers have been placed near the waterline in tribute, and local churches are planning memorial services in the coming days to honor the lives lost in this tragic accident.
This incident marks a stark reminder of the unpredictable dangers that can come with boating, even for the most familiar of outings. As the investigation proceeds, authorities are urging all boaters to use life jackets, maintain up-to-date navigational gear, and be mindful of coastal structures, especially after dark.
For now, the shoreline mourns the loss of two of its own—lives cut short far too soon by a silent collision on a summer night.
May Cynthia Ferk and Floyd Maxson rest in peace, and may their loved ones find strength in the days ahead.