Body Of Missing Boater On Lake Minnetonka Identified

LAKE MINNETONKA, MN - The body that Hennepin County divers located and recovered near the area of Big Island on Lake Minnetonka on Sunday morning has been identified. The man is Erick Barbieri-Astorga of Shorewood, according a GoFundMe page created to help the family.

The body was recovered from the same area authorities had been searching for a missing boater. Hennepin County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a 911 call of a boat circling near the area of Big Island about 6 p.m. Saturday.

When deputies arrived, they located a recreational boat operating with no one onboard. After recovering the boat, deputies began searching the area with sonar equipment.

The GoFundMe page describes Barbieri-Astorga as an amazing father to four girls, and a loving husband to Denise.

"He was their main provider. His loss will create not only incredible emotional hardships for his family, but financial strain while they adjust to life without their daddy and husband. Erick was an incredibly loving and generous man. He was always willing to help anyone out however he could. He adored his daughters and loved spending his time with them. He loved his boat and being on the lake," the GoFundMe page says.

"Losing him leaves a tremendous hole in our family. Please consider helping Denise out with funeral and future expenses as she embarks on a long and painful journey of raising their girls without him by her side. Two of their darling daughters have lifelong medical conditions that require expensive medications and endless monitoring," according to the GoFundMe page.

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Photo via GoFundMe.