“Our family is devastated by the tragic loss of our beloved parents,” the victims’ daughter said in a statement

Dog Walker Dies After Falling Through Ice, Husband Still Missing

Members of the Eastham Police and Fire Departments search Bee’s River at First Encounter Beach in Massachusetts.Credit : NBC 10 WJAR

 

The family of a couple who fell through the ice in a Valentine’s Day tragedy are speaking out.

On Saturday, Feb. 14, the Eastham Police Department in Massachusetts said in a news release shared on Facebook that they had responded to a report of a “loose dog” in the parking lot of First Encounter Beach, on the shore of Cape Cod Bay, at 9:07 a.m. local time that day.

When an officer arrived at the scene, a woman was heard screaming for help in the Bee’s River area. The officer located the woman, who had fallen through ice and into the water, however, they became “completely submerged” after the ice gave way, police said.

A second officer also attempted to rescue the woman, but the ice also gave way. She was eventually located under the ice at 11:12 a.m. that day, but was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene, per the release. Her husband is still missing.

Police have yet to identify the victims, but relatives have identified them as Jerry and Kit Boucher, of Eastham, according to NBC10 Boston.

Eastham Police Vehicle

A photo of an Eastham Police vehicle.Eastham Police Department

The couple’s daughter said in a statement to WHDH’s 7News Boston, “Our family is devastated by the tragic loss of our beloved parents, Kit and Jerry Boucher.”

“We are deeply grateful for the heroic efforts of the first responders in Eastham. We are thankful for the outpouring of love, and appreciate the privacy and discretion the community is extending to our family during this unimaginably difficult time,” the family added, per the statement, which was also published by NBC10 Boston.

The family confirmed the couple had known one another since they were 15 years old, NBC10 Boston reported.

A friend of the Bouchers, Peter Miller, said, “They were some of the most caring, kindest people you could ever meet,” 7News Boston reported.

Dawn Varnum, who also knew the couple well, said, “They were a very loving couple and it’s devastating to the whole community to all of us who knew them,” per NBC10 Boston.

“They were just such happy people,” Miller shared, according to the outlet. “They loved to make everyone laugh; everybody smiles. It was very important for them to have a good time.”

“They walk all the beaches, all the time. They loved being on Cape Cod, they loved living here. This was their place,” Varnum said, per NBC10 Boston.

Police commenced a follow-up search for the missing man on Sunday, Feb. 15, per a press release shared on Facebook.

“On Sunday morning at approximately 7 a.m., members of the Eastham Police and Fire Departments returned to Bee’s River at First Encounter Beach to conduct a follow up search,” police said.

“An Eastham Police drone was deployed for approximately 2 hours, providing an aerial search view of the entire Bee’s River area. An on-foot search was also conducted of the accessible shoreline,” they added. “The search concluded at approximately 9 a.m. still without the second victim being located. Additional search efforts will be conducted when changes to the ice conditions occur, allowing access for public safety personnel.”

Police said the search would resume on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 17, per NBC10 Boston. Rescuers also returned to the area on Monday.

The Eastham Police Department didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information. PEOPLE has also reached out to Katy Boucher.