Father and son lost at sea after deadly capsize

Published 2:54 pm Thursday, July 18, 2024

ILWACO — A father and son from Camas were lost at sea on July 13 after a private fishing boat capsized on the Columbia River bar.

Constantin Leahu, 43, and his 11-year-old son, Andrei, have not been located. The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its extensive 11-hour helicopter and motor lifeboat search at nightfall the day of the capsizing.

Irina Negrean, a friend of the Leahu family, said the family has been involved in volunteering their time and energy into their local Romanian Orthodox Christian community.

“The family is doing as well as can be expected,” Negrean said. “Obviously, they’re incredibly shocked, and it was incredibly unexpected. Constantin was the main provider for the family, so this is going to be a huge shift to the family dynamics.”

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The boy had just turned 11 the day before and had convinced his father to let him go on a fishing trip with his dad for the first time.

Leahu worked as a self-employed contractor and provided for his wife, Elena Venera, his son and his four young daughters, who range in age from 2 to 14.

The Coast Guard said five people were on the 26-foot boat when it “collided with the bar” at about 10:30 a.m. Three people were recovered. Two were brought ashore alive thanks to timely intervention by Ilwaco-based charter vessels. John Miller, 65, one of the people who was recovered, later died, the Coast Guard said.

“We trust that the Coast Guard did the best they could,” Negrean said. “We’re hoping that something turns up. We would like to be able to give the family closure, and we’re all collectively praying for getting them back and being able to give them a proper burial.”

The boy had just turned 11 the day before and had convinced his father to let him go on a fishing trip with his dad for the first time, Negrean told the Oregonian.

A GoFundMe account (www.gofundme.com/f/donations-for-leahu-family) has been launched to help support the family as they grapple with financial uncertainty and the emotional turmoil of losing two family members. As of July 23, $116,521 was raised toward a $250,000 goal.