JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WFLA) — Two boaters are lifeless and two are nonetheless lacking after a ship capsized within the St. Johns River.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned eight folks had been on board the boat Friday night time when the 18-foot vessel went down close to Goat Island for unknown causes.
In response to the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, they acquired the report of 4 folks on high of the boat, and 4 folks presumably beneath. Nobody aboard was reportedly sporting life jackets.
The 4 folks on high of the boat had been discovered alive that night time, whereas one was discovered lifeless.
On Sunday night, officers confirmed discovering one other boated deceased. Crews had been nonetheless actively trying to find the remaining two boaters.
JSO’s Marine and Dive items are persevering with to go looking the river utilizing SONAR know-how, whereas their Air Unit patrols from above. Crews are working alongside the Florida Fish and Wildlife, the USCG, and native legislation enforcement.
“We’ve got been working across the clock since Friday night time to deliver a decision,” the sheriff’s workplace wrote in a put up.
In response to the Coast Guard, crews searched by air and water for roughly 17 hours, protecting greater than 270 sq. miles. They introduced the suspension of their search on Saturday.
“We lengthen our deepest sympathies to the household and family members of these lacking,” Lt. Cmdr. Barton Nanney, a Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville search and rescue mission coordinator mentioned. “Suspending search efforts is an extremely tough and heartbreaking choice, made solely after an exhaustive and thorough search. We’re actually grateful to our accomplice companies for his or her relentless efforts and unwavering assist.”
The FWC is main this investigation and can proceed its search efforts alongside JSO. Anybody with data on this incident is requested to name 911.
WFLA.com has reached out to the sheriff’s workplace for extra data.
