CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N.Y. -- The Bemus Point Volunteer Fire Department found the body of missing fisherman David Spink on Chautauqua Lake early Thursday morning.
"Close to the area where the boat was originally discovered, we saw something unusual in the water, went over to investigate," said Bemus Point Volunteer Fire Department Chief Steve Hayes.
Spink's body was found lying in the water near the beach house.
The recovery caps off an extensive week-long search through the air and around the lake.
"Divers in the water, sonar. From where he launched to where his boat was recovered, was the entire width of the lake and we had no idea where this may have taken place where he went in the water," said Sheriff Joe Gerace, D-Chautauqua County.
The Varysburg man was supposed to launch his boat at Prendergast Point and then pick up a friend, but never showed up.
His boat was found on shore across the lake at Long Point, while his truck and trailer were still at the boat launch.
"Our volunteers are fishermen, boaters themselves, they understand what it means, and what it means to be missing a loved one and we wanted to do what we could," said Hayes.
"It's very painful for everybody involved, especially the family," said Gerace.
Gerace says there was no foul play, as the recovery now gives the family the closure it needs.
"That is a very difficult thing to have open and have to deal with so yeah, that's in a sense a relief in that respect, but it doesn't make the situation better for them," said Gerace.