Crew member hurt in boating accident leaves hospital; fate of 2 colleagues from Va. unclear

Injured boat crew member leaves NJ hospital

TRENTON, N.J. — The lone survivor of a fishing boat accident off the southern New Jersey coast has been released from the hospital, but the fate of two other crew members remains unknown.

A nursing supervisor says Robert Mark Cooper of Point Pleasant was released from an Atlantic City hospital Friday, two days after he was found in a life raft. Details on his injuries have not been disclosed, and a phone listing for Cooper could not be found Sunday.

Cooper was among three people aboard the Point Pleasant-based Alisha Marie, a 38-foot boat. It capsized Wednesday night after being hit by a large wave about 26 miles east of Barnegat Light.

The search for William Brown Jr. and Joseph Bell, both of Newport News, Va., was suspended Thursday night.