ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Members of the U.S. Coast Guard have called off a search after two life jackets were found Sunday following three 911 calls.
The Coast Guard says the individual is safe, not in distress, and the calls were confirmed to be accidental.
The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville received reports from the St. Johns County dispatch of three dropped 911 calls approximately 10 NM East Southeast of St. Augustine Inlet around 9 a.m.
This led the St. Johns Sheriff's Office, St. Johns Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard Station Mayport and U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Savannah to begin searching the area.
Authorities say they found potential correlating debris along with two life jackets Sunday afternoon.
The Coast Guard says the person who called 911 is safe, and all mariners are requested to be aware of the SOS functions on their cell phone and properly secure them when not in use to avoid accidental emergency calls.
What happened? A timeline
Monday, as of 1:37 p.m.:
The U.S. Coast Guard has concluded the search near St. Augustine Inlet. St. Johns Sheriff Office worked with 911 dispatch on digital evaluation of the call and obtained the originating phone number. The individual is safe, not in distress, and the calls were confirmed to be accidental.
Monday, as of 11:30 a.m.:
An 87-foot tarpon cutter from Mayport is out on the water searching as well as a plane from customs and border patrol.
Officials are still out searching where they found the life jackets.
It is being treated as an unconfirmed person in water at this time
Sunday, as of 11:30 p.m.:
At this time, authorities have not received any reports of missing boats or missing boaters and they are not sure if someone is in distress right now.
The Coast Guard is urging all boaters to keep a sharp lookout when moving through the area.