JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two boaters are still missing nearly 60 hours after their boat overturned on the St. Johns River close to the Dames Point Bridge. The incident resulted in 8 individuals being thrown into the water, as reported by News 6 partner WJXT.
Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville was informed around 7 p.m. on Friday about the overturned 18-foot vessel, with four individuals spotted on top of the boat and another four reportedly trapped underneath it.
The four people on top of the boat were rescued by a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office marine unit.
Jacksonville Fire Rescue disclosed that one individual was discovered deceased in the vicinity of the boat during the initial rescue operation. Although the age of the deceased person was not confirmed by JFRD, it was mentioned that among the four individuals initially missing, two were adults and two were children.
The Coast Guard suspended its search Saturday night for the three who remained missing Saturday night.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of those missing. Suspending search efforts is an incredibly difficult and heartbreaking decision, made only after an exhaustive and thorough search,” said Lt. Cmdr. Barton Nanney, the Jacksonville search and rescue mission coordinator. “We are truly grateful to our partner agencies for their relentless efforts and unwavering support.”
The search resumed on Sunday led by the FWC.
According to the FWC, two children and one adult remained missing over the weekend. One of them was found dead Sunday, according to JSO. It’s unclear if it was the adult or one of the children.
On Sunday, community members got involved in looking for the missing boaters and expressed their commitment to providing closure for the families involved.
Various boating and community groups took to social media to organize the search efforts, which saw jet skis and boats patrolling the St. Johns River in hopes of locating the three remaining boaters.
“Just keep searching,” Maggie Cantu said. “Anybody that has a boat, any locals, if it was your family you wouldn’t want to search to stop just keep looking for them until they’re found.”
News4JAX spoke with a maritime expert who specializes in crashes similar to the one that occurred Friday night, and they recommended crews search for any loose remains of the boat, like seat cushions or other items, that can give investigators an idea of how things have moved over the past couple of days.
No one aboard the vessel was reportedly wearing lifejackets when the boat capsized. The investigation into what caused the boat to flip continues.
According to JFRD, the group was out taking photos of the sunset and said the call came in around 8 p.m. on Friday for a capsized boat near the Dames Point Bridge.
First responders with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Coast Guard, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department responded to the Mill Cove area of Jacksonville, near where the Trout River and St. Johns River intersect.
FWC said they will be back out on the water searching on Monday. FWC has urged the public to avoid the search zone to ensure the safety of divers and officers working in the area.
The Lions Club Boat Launch and Reddie Point Reserve will be closed during the investigation.
Anyone with information that could assist in the search is urged to contact Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville at 904-714-7558.
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