A person is dead and three are still missing after an 18 -foot ship overturned near Goat Island in St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida, Friday night.
The Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department responded to a report of a vessel overturned with several people in the water around 8 pm, said Captain Eric Proswimmer to NBC News. Four people were at the top of the boat, while four more possibly were under it, according to the United States Coast Guard, which also responded to the incident.
The four at the top of the ship were rescued from the water, the Coast Guard said.
“A Mayport Coast Guard station, the rescue surface swimmer tried to contact people, according to reports, under the ship, but did not receive answers,” said the Coast Guard in the press release. “The divers of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s office looked under the ship, but did not locate any people.”
The search for the remaining four people continued through boats, search and diving equipment, helicopters and drones. The Jacksonville Sheriff Office and the Florida Fishing and Wildlife Conservation Commission also helped with the search.
“One of the four missing was found and unfortunately died,” said Prosswimmer. The officials did not identify the victim.
The search for the remaining three, an adult and two minors, continued throughout the night without success, according to the officials. The search resumed on Saturday morning.
The cause of the ship’s overtime is under investigation, the Coast Guard said.
This is a development story. Consult the updates again.
