Swimmer found on north end

The Fernandina Beach Fire Department focused its efforts into recovering the body of a swimmer who was lost in the surf on the north end of Amelia Island Wednesday.

According to Fire Chief Ty Silcox, his department was notified of three swimmers in distress Wednesday afternoon. Witnesses told FBFD the people went into the water on a pool float, although the FBFD’s Ocean Rescue had declared red flag conditions. The National Weather Service in Jacksonville had issued warning that rip currents were causing dangerous conditions.

Ocean Rescue was able to pull two of the swimmers, a male teenager and a female adult, out of the water, but a 15-year-old male could not be located. Chief Silcox said rescue efforts went on until dark, but were unsuccessful. The two recovered swimmers were transported to a local hospital and released. It was not known if any of the swimmers were related.

In addition to the FBFD and Ocean Rescue, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office and Nassau County Fire Department, the Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were also on scene to assist with the rescue. The NCSO’s drone was being used to assist, looking over the jetties on the north end of the island, along with FBFD personnel who were monitoring the beach.

On Thursday afternoon, the body of the teen was recovered.

“He was approximately half mile north of where he vanished and a beach patron saw him in the surf,” Silcox said. “Our lifeguards retrieved his body and he has been transferred to the medical examiner’s office.”

At the time of this report, the victim’s name had not been released.

In addition to the FBFD and Ocean Rescue, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office and Nassau County Fire Department, the Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were also on scene to assist with the rescue. The NCSO’s drone was being used to assist Thursday, looking over the jetties on the north end of the island, along with FBFD personnel who were monitoring the beach.

Silcox warned beach goers to be aware of conditions.

“We are pretty confident they (the swimmers) got caught in a rip current,” he said. “Obey the flags. With Hurricane Lee and multiple storms out there, the ocean is getting stirred up. Obey the flags, and don’t get in the water when there is a red flag. That’s why we put them there. Learn about rip currents and stay out of the water.”

jroberts@fbnewsleader.com