SARASOTA, Fla. — Crews recovered the body of a missing swimmer who disappeared beneath the waves Sunday evening off Turtle Beach in Sarasota, according to the sheriff's office.
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office deputies said a passing boater notified them about the body late Monday afternoon in the area of 9150 Blind Pass Road on Siesta Key as crews were already conducting recovery efforts about 1/4 mile north.
The body was identified as 23-year-old Jose Daniel Venta Ciro.
The rescue mission began just before 7:30 p.m. Sunday on Midnight Pass Road when first responders received a call about two to three swimmers in distress at Turtle Beach.
The sheriff's office said Sarasota County Fire Department crews responded to the scene first and saw the swimmers in distress.
With the help of bystanders, crews rescued all but one swimmer.
Air, marine and land assets from the sheriff's office, the fire department and U.S. Coast Guard were called in to assist in the search for the missing person.
"Due to approaching darkness and safety concerns from the strength of the current, protracted search efforts were suspended until daylight," the sheriff's office wrote.
Sarasota County Assistant Fire Chief Tim Dorsey said rough surf conditions, with 3 to 4-foot seas, were present all weekend. Warnings about rip currents were also issued, and red flags were present on beaches along the Gulf Coast.