CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Coast Guard ended its search for a missing swimmer Monday, after a Longboat Key Police department boat crew located and recovered a deceased individual who reportedly matched the description of the missing swimmer, Abhigyan Patel, one mile west of Anna Maria Island.
Coast Guard and partner agency crews searched by air and sea covering approximately 172 square miles, about half the size of Dallas. On-scene weather conditions during the search were 10-knot winds and one-foot seas.
"We offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Patel’s family and friends,” said Cmdr. Fredrick Pugh, a Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg search and rescue mission coordinator. “We thank all the search and rescue crews who worked with determination around the clock with hopes of a different outcome.”
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received a report of a missing 20-year-old swimmer at approximately 7 p.m., Sunday.
Rescue crews involved in the search:
- Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater
- Coast Guard Station Cortez
- Coast Guard Station St Petersburg
- Palmetto Police Department
- North River Fire District
- Holmes Beach Police Department
- Manatee County Sheriff’s Office
- West Manatee Fire and Rescue District
- Longboat Key Police Department
- Longboat key Fire Rescue
- Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
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