The whereabouts of 7-year-old Hunter Slezak are still unknown, but searchers found the boat about a mile off the coast

DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. (WALA) – As the fifth day of the search for 7-year-old Hunter Slezak comes to an end, his whereabouts remain a mystery.

A few hours ago, the 22-foot boat Hunter was last seen on was about a mile off the coast of Dauphin Island.

“One of our more experienced deputies, who has been doing this for a long time, decided to just go old school and start throwing grappling hooks, and eventually within 10 to 20 minutes he was able to hook the boat and get everyone there , where it was. said Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch.

Searchers had hoped to find Hunter in the cabin of the boat.

“Unfortunately, the cabin appears to be separate from the boat and we have not found that,” Burch said. “We have sonar equipment and divers are still searching.”

Crews from Monroe County, Saraland, Daphne and even volunteers still remain hopeful, searching by land, air and sea. All with the same goal: to find Hunter.

On November 29th, Hunter Slezak, his father Michael and family friend Sam Wooley set out to shrimp near Pelican Bay.

They never came back.

On November 30, the bodies of Michael and Sam were found south of Dauphin Island.

The men were well known in the community – Michael as a loving father, husband and head baseball coach at Semmes Middle School.

Sam, a Vietnam veteran, husband, father and grandfather.

With Hunter still missing, grief is on hold.

“We’re staying out here until we can find Hunter,” Burch said.

As teams prepare for the sixth day of searching, weather could further delay the closure needed for this community.

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