The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) responded to a report of a boat capsizing on the St. Johns River, where one person was found dead and four were rescued. However, three individuals, including two children, are still missing. Despite an extensive search effort involving multiple agencies, the search for the missing boaters has been called off by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The overturned boat, described as 18 feet in length, had eight passengers on board, none of whom were wearing life jackets. The Coast Guard recovered the deceased individual and rescued four others from the river, but efforts to locate the remaining missing individuals were unsuccessful. Divers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office searched under the vessel but found no one.
The search efforts spanned over 270 square miles and involved helicopters, dive teams, and multiple agencies. After 17 hours of searching, the U.S. Coast Guard made the difficult decision to suspend the search, pending the development of new information. The cause of the boat’s capsizing is currently under investigation, with no additional details being released to the public at this time.
Lt. Cmdr. Barton Nanney expressed condolences to the family and loved ones of those missing, emphasizing the exhaustive nature of the search effort. The decision to suspend search efforts was described as difficult and heartbreaking, with appreciation extended to partner agencies for their support. The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of water safety and the need for life jackets when boating.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
