ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – U.S. Coast Guard boat and air crews are continuing to search the Daytona Beach, Florida, area Monday morning after receiving a report Sunday evening of a man who was seen struggling in the water and not returning to shore near the Daytona Beach Pier.
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office notified watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, Florida, command center about 7 p.m. Sunday that a Daytona Beach lifeguard reported witnessing the man appear to struggle in the water about 300 yards offshore in front of the Hilton Daytona Beach Resort and not turning around or returning to shore.
Currently searching are:
- The crew of the Cape Canaveral, Florida-based Coast Guard Cutter Shrike.
- The crew of an Air Station Miami-based HC-144 Ocean Sentry plane.
- A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater, Florida, which is scheduled to join the search at sunrise.
- A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Air Station Savannah, Georgia, which was already in the area, searched Sunday night.
- A Coast Guard boatcrew from Station Ponce De Leon Inlet in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, searched Sunday night.
Also searching Sunday evening were a helicopter and two personal watercraft from Volusia County Sheriff's Office and members of Volusia County Beach Safety.
Responders have not confirmed the man’s identification, but the lifeguard who reported the incident claims to recognize him, reporting he is believed to be a homeless man who frequents the area.
There are currently no reports from the public of swimmers missing from Daytona Beach.