Carbon monoxide poisoning cause of death of married Palatka boaters on Fourth of July near Disappearing Island

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Palatka husband wife wife found dead in their boat on July 4 near Disappearing Island died of carbon monoxide poisoning, an official with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed Tuesday.

The deaths of Howard Lupton, 50, and Sandra Lupton, 48, were ruled accidental from carbon monoxide poisoning, following autopsies, FWC spokesman Joy Hill said, adding the incident remains under investigation though no foul play is suspected.

A generator in the engine compartment of their that may have been used to provide air conditioning for the cabin of the married couple's 29-foot cuddy cabin-style boat is the suspected source of the poisoning, Hill said.

The Luptons were found unresponsive by their son, Daniel Lupton, 23, and his fiancee, about 11 a.m. The couples had been in their respective boats during the holiday weekend near Disappearing Island, which straddles New Smyrna Beach and Ponce Inlet.

The Coast Guard and New Smyrna Beach firefighters immediately responded, but efforts to revive the Luptons were unsuccessful and they were pronounced dead at the scene.

This was the second tragic event in consecutive holidays involving boaters near Dissapearing Island. On Memorial Day, three people lost their lives, when one boat ran on top of another woman, killing a woman nine-months pregnant, her unborn child, and her father.

Disappearing Island, formed from sandbars during the outgoing tide, is a popular destination spot for boaters, because they can swim there and walk dogs and even hold picnics.