World News | Search for Florida boater missing in lake near Legoland

WINTER HAVEN, March 19 (AP) Authorities searched a lake Sunday near Legoland in central Florida for two missing crew members who are believed to have drowned in an accident.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a news conference that the two men jumped into Lake Eloise to save a third person in their group, a woman who was struggling in the water.

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They got separated from the boat and haven’t been seen since Saturday night.

A third person, Velcky Velazques, 38, was rescued by sheriff’s deputies when a 10-year-old girl on the boat called 911 from her cellphone.

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The child and an 8-year-old girl remained on board as the boat drifted and were safely rescued by deputies who commandeered a fishing boat whose owner cooperated in the effort, Judd said.

The lake, which adjoins the Legoland theme park in Winter Haven, had winds of 20 mph (32 kph) and some whitecaps Saturday, Judd said. He added that the weather problems were compounded by the inexperience of the crew, who had chartered the boat for an outing that day.

The sheriff said the problems started when Velazques jumped into the water with the anchor in hand.

“She’s just very inexperienced, so she thinks you’re supposed to get in the water, put the anchor in, and tie it to the boat,” Judd said.

The missing persons were identified as Orlando Ortiz, 32, who was Velazquez’s boyfriend, and Jeffrey Marrero, 34, who was the father of the two girls. Judd said the search will continue using sonar and underwater drones until they are found.

“We’re not allowing anyone’s loved ones to stay in the lake. We’re going to find them,” Judd said.

Winter Haven is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Tampa.

Legoland issued a statement Saturday saying the incident “has nothing to do with us,” but added that a boardwalk at its hotel was being used by officials as a command center.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time,” the statement said. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)