Missing boater's body found off E. Quogue

The body of an East Quogue boater last seen Sunday afternoon was discovered Monday in shallow waters off East Quogue shortly after a search for him began, officials said.

John C. Lindahl, 59, left in a small boat about 4 p.m. Saturday to check on duck blinds in Shinnecock Bay, authorities said, but he never returned.

Coast Guard Lt. Christopher Billiau said Monday, "At 12:20 this afternoon there was a 911 call from the son of the person who was later found, stating that he couldn't get a hold of his father."

In response to that call, a small Coast Guard boat was sent out to search, along with helicopters from the Coast Guard and Suffolk County police, Billiau said. The Suffolk police helicopter sighted the body in about 4 feet of marsh water and weeds, the Coast Guard said. The victim's 18-foot boat was found about a quarter of a mile away, police said.

Lindahl's body was taken to the Suffolk medical examiner's office in Hauppauge to determine cause of death.

Southampton Town detectives are investigating and asked that anyone with information contact them at 631-728-5000 or call the Crime Hotline at 631-728-3454.

Lindahl's son, John B. Lindahl, said, his father "was a lifelong inshore and offshore fisherman, and during the winter an avid duck hunter." He said Monday night that the family was hoping to get information from police about what had caused his father's death.

Lindahl said his father, born in Southampton, was a builder who worked for Koral Brothers in Southampton.

Funeral service plans were not yet determined, he said.