Teen dies after going missing in waves off Indialantic coast

J.D. Gallop, Florida Today
·1 min read

The body of a 16-year-old who went missing in the waves off of the Indialantic coast Sunday evening was recovered, Brevard County Fire Rescue confirmed.

The apparent drowning — the fifth to take place in the waters off of Brevard since November — was reported just after 5:35 p.m. near the area of Ocean Boulevard and Wave Crest Avenue, police reported. It was also one of five rescues to take place Sunday along Brevard's 72-mile long coastline as residents and tourists hit the beaches in droves to take advantage of the warm waters, Fire Rescue officials reported.

At least five apparent drownings have taken place in the waters off Brevard's coastline.
At least five apparent drownings have taken place in the waters off Brevard's coastline.

The teen — who was not identified by police — was last seen in the waters off the crowded beach near the boardwalk at Wave Crest.

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A search was carried out by Brevard County lifeguards, along with Florida Fish and Wildlife and Indialantic police.  An hour later, the teen’s body was pulled from the water. A moderate risk of rip currents had been reported by the National Weather Service in Melbourne for Sunday, and the teen was believed to have been caught in the rip currents off of Ocean Boulevard, said Don Walker, spokesperson for Brevard County Fire Rescue.

Brevard County Ocean Rescue Lifeguard Chief Eisen Witcher and Asst. Chief Derek Swor are pictured at a Dec. 8, 2022, press conference at Howard Futch Memorial Park at Paradise Beach to discuss recent drownings, numerous rescues and the dangers of rip currents.
Brevard County Ocean Rescue Lifeguard Chief Eisen Witcher and Asst. Chief Derek Swor are pictured at a Dec. 8, 2022, press conference at Howard Futch Memorial Park at Paradise Beach to discuss recent drownings, numerous rescues and the dangers of rip currents.

The death investigation is being handled by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @JDGallop.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Body of missing teen missing found in water off Brevard, Florida beach