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The search for a missing paddleboarder came to a tragic end on Monday when authorities recovered the man’s body in Old Tampa Bay, police reported.
The man was last spotted on Saturday afternoon around 4 p.m. near the Courtney Campbell Causeway, a major thoroughfare linking Tampa and Clearwater across the bay.
His disappearance was reported by his family shortly after 9 p.m. on Sunday, according to the Tampa Police Department.
As dawn broke over the scenic Courtney Campbell Causeway, which serves as a vital connection between Tampa Bay, Clearwater, and Dunedin, Florida, search efforts intensified. The search operation commenced on Monday morning as weather conditions and visibility improved, allowing rescuers to comb the area more effectively.
A search began Monday morning after conditions and visibility improved.
Officers with the department’s marine unit located the man’s paddleboard and other belongings on the west side of Old Tampa Bay at about 11 a.m., police said.
His body was recovered about an hour later near the causeway bridge.
The man vanished around 4 p.m. Saturday near the Courtney Campbell Causeway, a roadway that connects Tampa and Clearwater across the bay. (iStock)
Authorities said the man has not yet been positively identified, pending notification of next of kin.
Foul play is not suspected, police said, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Drone angle view of Clearwater Beach and Bridge. (Getty Images)
The Courtney Campbell Causeway is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike who can enjoy the panoramic views of the Bay.
According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, stand-up paddleboards are treated as vessels, which means paddlers are expected to follow many of the same safety rules as boaters.
According to the agency, safety rules for boaters include carrying a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket, having a sound-producing device on board and using lights when visibility drops. The agency warns that glare, fog and choppy water can make small craft hard to spot.
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