JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Coast Guard and partner agency crews are searching for three people, an adult and two minors, Saturday, after the vessel they were on capsized near Goat Island on the St. Johns River.
Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville command center watchstanders received a report via VHF-FM Channel 16 at approximately 7 p.m. Friday, of an overturned 18-foot vessel with four people on top of the vessel and an additional four people possibly underneath the vessel. No one aboard the vessel was reportedly wearing lifejackets.
Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of a Coast Guard Station Mayport boat crew and a Coast Guard Air Station Savannah helicopter crew to assist. Crews from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also launched to assist.
The four people on top of the vessel were rescued by a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office marine unit and one person was recovered from the water unresponsive.
A Coast Guard Station Mayport rescue surface swimmer attempted to contact the people reportedly underneath the vessel but received no responses. Divers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office searched underneath the vessel but did not locate any people.
Involved in the search are:
- Coast Guard Station Mayport
- Coast Guard Air Station Savannah
- Coast Guard Cutter Coho
- Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
- Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Anyone with information that could assist in the search is urged to contact Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville at 904-714-7558.
The cause of the capsizing is under investigation.
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