A boat partially sank after Tropical Storm Debby hit Florida, leaving one man dead and his beloved dog without an owner.
According to a press release from the Gulfport Police Department, boater Brian J. Clough, 48, anchored his sailboat approximately 50 feet from Gulfport’s Veterans Park while riding out the storm with his dog Daisy.
Members of the local boating community noticed on Monday, Aug. 5, that a portion of the boat had submerged underwater, and Clough was nowhere to be found.
Brian J. Clough and his dog Daisy.
Gulfport Police Department
“I dove into the boat. I could only search about 85% of it, so I’m not 100% [sure] he’s not on there. We got his dog off the boat. That’s one of the main worries is he wouldn’t leave his dog,” Ryan Newkirk told WTVT.
After the Gulfport Police Department was notified of Clough’s disappearance, they were able to recover a deceased body from the boat later in the afternoon, the press release said.
The body was identified as Clough and was taken to a local medical examiner’s office for examination. Daisy is being cared for by a “close friend” of Clough, reports FOX Weather.
High winds, rain and storm surge from Hurricane Debby inundate a neighborhood on August 05, 2024, in Cedar Key, Florida.
Joe Raedle/Getty
“This is an active, ongoing investigation; however, the preliminary investigation does not indicate any foul play is involved in this person’s death,” said the Gulfport Police Department.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help pay for Clough’s funeral expenses and celebration of life ceremony, as well as Daisy’s future vet expenses.
“Brian tragically lost his life after being stuck in his sinking boat while the storm came in. Everyone who knew Brian loved him for his fun personality, quick wit, entrepreneurial spirit, and of course his deep love for Daisy,” the campaign states.
As of this writing, the campaign has raised over $2,800 of its $5,000 goal.
According to The Weather Channel, while Debby is no longer a tropical storm, it “will still spread flooding rain, wind gusts, and isolated tornadoes through the East from the Carolinas to New England through early Saturday, after it made its final landfall in South Carolina early Thursday.”
