ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Multiple units are searching for a missing man last seen swimming in the area of Mickler's Landing Sunday afternoon, according to St. Johns County Fire Rescue.
Fire rescue said the family of the swimmer, identified as a 20-year-old man, made the call reporting him missing at 2:15 p.m. He was last seen at 1:45 p.m. wearing black pants, officials said.
Members of the Coast Guard, St. Johns County Sheriff's Office and St. Johns County Fire Rescue are searching for the swimmer.
SJCFR said crews were scaling back its on-scene units moving into Sunday night, but there will still be some units continuing the search from the water and on the beach. This includes resources from Marine Rescue Division units and boats from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Additional units will continue searching at daybreak Monday.
“When we drove up and we saw all these police cars and what have you, we had to know something bad had to happen," said beachgoer Antonella Parker.
Parker quickly learned the flashing lights were crews searching for a missing swimmer at Mickler's Landing.
“All of a sudden, there was this overwhelming feeling of remorse and sadness," said Parker.
Instead of going on with her day at the beach, Parker gathered others looking on and got them to join her in prayer.
“We were compelled to ask the people to join hands and to pray," said Parker.
St. Johns County Fire Rescue Spokesperson Chris Naff said the family of the missing swimmer called in when they lost sight of him in the surf.
Naff said he was surprised to see so many people on the beach soon after a hurricane, considering how rough the water is.
"There is a high risk of rip currents. The surf is still heavy from Hurricane Milton, so we're seeing this all over the county and I'm sure up in Jacksonville as well. Tough rip current is pulling people out," said Naff.
Naff said the jet ski crews responded to two other ocean rescue calls at Mickler's Landing while they searched for the missing swimmer.
County officials and the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office closed Dondanville south due to "safety concerns with the incoming high tide." Officials also noted the threat of high rip currents.
Parker and her husband Robert decided to stay out of the rough water, watching and hoping from the shore.
"If I was the parent, I'd be super concerned," said Parker. "I saw one little girl. Must've been his sister, and she was heartbroken."
People are asked to avoid the area. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call 911 immediately.
This is a developing story.