One of the 33 crew members on board the cargo ship that disappeared during Hurricane Joaquin was a 26-year-old man who lived in Brooklyn, NBC 4 New York has learned.
Mitchell Kuflik was on board the El Faro when the doomed cargo ship left Jacksonville, Florida, destined for San Juan, on Oct. 1, just as Joaquin was setting in on the Bahamas. The Coast Guard ended its search for survivors on Oct. 7.
Kuflik and his girlfriend moved into their Prospect Heights apartment several years ago. The building superintendent was stunned when he learned that the quiet young man who lived on the second floor was lost at sea.
"It hit like a bomb would hit you," said Stefan Dabreo after reading a text message sent from Kuflik's girlfriend.
Dabreo said the couple was always polite and "very quiet people, by themselves."
"You see them go to the grocery, go to the laundry together," he said.
Dabreo said he had no idea Kuflik was on the El Faro until one of his friends stopped by.
Local
"She said, 'We can't find Mitch.' She said he's lost," said Dabreo. "I said, 'I don't get it,' and she said he's lost at sea. I said, 'Are you referring to the ship that was lost in the Bahamas?' and she said yes, and it really hit me."
Kuflik's girlfriend was not home Thursday.
The Coast Guard has recovered some debris, including life vests and containers, but so far have only found one body.
