Press Release: Crab Island Search for Missing 20-Year Old

Sandra Stokes Walden

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Posted by: Sandra Walden
Date: Apr 27 2015 11:24 AM

Larry Ashley, Okaloosa County Sheriff                                          Headquarters: 50 2nd Street, Shalimar Florida 32579-1234 Phone: (850) 651-7410, Email: [email protected] 

 An Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team and other agencies are continuing the search this morning for a 20-year old Pace man who went underwater in Choctawhatchee Bay near Crab Island Sunday and didn’t resurface. 

The individual was with a group of friends when he and his girlfriend reportedly floated away from their rented boat to an area with a drop-off to deeper water shortly after 5 p.m. The man began to struggle and went under. The girlfriend was rescued by passing boaters. 

The OCSO and Coast Guard boats arrived on scene within minutes and were assisted by the Okaloosa Island Fire Department, Destin Fire Department, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office SO helicopter also provided air support. OCSO on-duty dive team members made several dives to search for the missing man. He could not be located and the search was suspended once it got dark. 

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office 

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