The body of a Groton boater reported missing on Friday was located by a tug boat in New York waters on Saturday.

The body of 49-year-old Matthew Lyon was recovered by Connecticut State Police on Saturday north of Great Gull Island, N.Y. Lyon had been reported overdue from a boating trip in his 14-foot boat that had launched from the Groton Elks Lodge and Marina in Groton on Friday afternoon.

Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound watchstanders were contacted at 5:30 p.m. Friday by the Groton City Police Department, who stated that Lyon's wife had reported him overdue.

Boat crews from Coast Guard Station New London, Coast Guard Station Montauk, the Coast Guard Cutter Coho and a Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew were launched to search the area, aided by a host of local law enforcement and rescue agencies. A Coast Guard HC-130 crew from Air Station Elizabeth City launched for a first light search Saturday morning.

The harbor tug Genesis Eagle located a body in the water two nautical miles north of Great Gull Island at 9:47 a.m. on Saturday, the Coast Guard said in a news statement. Connecticut State Police recovered the body at 10:29 a.m.

The body was taken to Coast Guard Station New Haven, where it was later positively identified as Lyon. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

"We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Matthew Lyon,” Capt. Eva Van Camp, commander of Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound, said in a statement.

"This tragedy emphasizes the inherent dangers of marine activities, and we urge all boaters to take basic steps to ensure their safety before getting underway, including checking the weather, filing a float plan and wearing a life jacket. We're grateful for the effective coordination we have with our partner agencies which led to the quick recovery of Mr. Lyon's body,” Van Camp said.

g.smith@theday.com