Florida Deputies Find Different Body While Searching For Missing Diver
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| Credit: St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office |
FORT PIERCE, Florida - St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office deputies discovered a different body on Monday afternoon while searching for a diver who went missing off the coast of Fort Pierce Inlet on Mother's Day.
St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit assisted the U.S. Coast Guard with recovering a deceased white male from the water about 16 miles NE of the Fort Pierce Inlet.
According to the Sheriff's Office, the other man weighs approximately 200 to 225 lbs. and appears to be over 50 years of age. His clothing and physical characteristics do not match those of the missing diver from Sunday.
So far, there have not been any missing person reports in St. Lucie County matching the description of the other man.
The U.S. Coast Guard is working with the medical examiner to determine the cause and approximate time of death. The body does not appear to have been in the water for an extended period of time.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard has discontinued the search for 39-year-old Ryan Pierce, a West Palm Beach resident who was free diving in the area of the Halsey, a WWII-era shipwreck where, upon his last known dive, he failed to resurface.
"Crews suspended the search for Virgil Price, Mon. evening, pending new info, after searching over 1,415 mi. & 36 hrs.. The decision to suspend an active search is never taken lightly. We extend our sincerest condolences to Mr. Price’s family,” LCDR John Beal stated in a tweet.
The area where the diver went missing is approximately 9 miles off of Jensen Beach, Florida
Pierce was last seen wearing a green wet suit with an orange stripe on the hood, yellow weights on his weight belt, and black carbon fiber fins.
#BREAKING @USCG & partner agencies’ crews are searching for Ryan Price, a 39 y.o. Caucasian man. Ryan was last seen free diving approx. 9 miles off Jensen Beach, wearing a green wetsuit and black flippers. If you have info on Ryan’s whereabouts call Sector Miami @ 305-535-4472 pic.twitter.com/C0lXpPufta
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) May 12, 2024
