ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — The body of the missing swimmer last seen in the area of Mickler's Landing Sunday was recovered Monday morning.
St. Johns County 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. Sunday.
The man's body was found about a block north of where he originally went missing, officials said.
Members of the Coast Guard, St. Johns County Sheriff's Office and St. Johns County Fire Rescue had been searching for the swimmer since Sunday.
“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 on Sunday.
Parker quickly learned the flashing lights were crews searching for the missing swimmer.
“All of a sudden, there was this overwhelming feeling of remorse and sadness," Parker said.
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," Parker said.
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," Naff said. "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."
