Horror as entire family including two young sons, 11 and 7, is lost at sea after their boat capsized at night in freezing waters off remote coastline - as their dad's heartbreaking final posts are revealed

An entire family, including two young sons, is lost at sea after the boat they were on capsized and sank off the coast of Alaska in freezing waters.

Mary and David Maynard, as well as their two sons, 11-year-old Colton and seven-year-old Brantley, were on a 28-foot aluminum vessel with four others on Saturday when it began taking on water around 7pm, according to Travis Magee, a spokesman for the US Coast Guard.

It radioed for help, and the ship Salty Sea responded and was able to rescue the other four from a life raft, the Anchorage Daily News reports. 

The Coast Guard has since been searching the waters off the coast of Homer, Alaska for the family from Texas, using a helicopter, plane, cutter and two other vessels - in addition to help from the Alaska Wildlife Troopers and good Samaritan steam boats.

But thus far, the family remains missing, and search efforts were suspended at around 6pm on Sunday. 

'Any time we make a decision to suspend a search and rescue case is a very difficult one to make,' Coast Guard Petty Officer Shannon Kerney told KCEN-TV, noting that the water was 51 degrees when the boat capsized.

The waves were at just two feet, and wind speeds were at less than five knots, according to the Anchorage Daily News. 

'Cases that are suspended, they're only suspended pending the development of new information,' Kerney added.

'If anything comes to light, any new information that we get, we're more than happy and willing to go out and continue our search.

'Our hearts are definitely with the families right now as they grieve.' 

A family friend broke the news of the Maynard's disappearance on Facebook, asking for prayers for the family.

'I kindly ask for prayers from everyone possible,' Stetson Chase wrote on Sunday, as she announced that the family was on a boat that capsized. 

'While we may not have been best friends, we just knew each other through sports and our kiddos, I think I can vouch for many that they were a wonderful, caring and loving family that deserves to be brought home.' 

Mary and David are both from Troy, Texas and raised their sons there, Christi Wells told the Anchorage Daily News.

She noted that Colton and Brantley both played soccer and baseball, and said that Mary, 37, worked as a traveling nurse while David, 42, stayed home with their children and ran a lawn care business.

The family has already been through a lot, with Colton suffering from epilepsy for years before he underwent brain surgery in 2021, Mary posted at the time. 

The family loved to travel and spend time with family and friends, which is what Wells said they were doing in Alaska. 

In a heartbreaking final post on Facebook, David shared photos of the scenery in Alaska - showing mountains and a bear - writing on Tuesday: 'After four days in Alaska, I FINALLY got to see my first bear!!!!

'No picture can ever show just how beautiful this place truly is!!!!!' 

Cassandra Martin, a longtime family friend, said she was left heartbroken when she heard what happened.

She told KWTX it's 'hard to believe that this could be real... she and her husband and her boys are all really beloved members of our community.'

Another family friend, Jennifer York, wrote on Facebook that she needs 'God to work a miracle in finding these four beautiful individuals.'

'Please lift Mary's mom Charlotte and the whole family in your prayers during this difficult time,' she added.