Florida: Unidentified Body Found Amid Search for Missing Diver

Rescuers searching for a missing diver off the coast of Fort Pierce, Florida, encountered a shocking turn of events on Monday when they discovered a different body.

The unidentified body was found around 30 miles from where the missing diver, Virgil Price, was last seen, adding an unexpected layer of mystery to the ongoing search efforts.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the man found does not match the description of the missing diver, the New York Post report.

The body, estimated to belong to a man weighing between 200 and 225 pounds and appearing to be over 50 years old, does not correspond to any known missing person reports in the area.

The cause of death remains undetermined, and the man did not seem to have been in the water for an extended period.

The US Coast Guard suspended the search for Virgil Price, 39, on Monday.

Virgil Price was an experienced freediver exploring the wreck of the Halsey, a World War II-era ship, when he failed to resurface on Sunday.

The search covered more than 1,415 miles over 36 hours before being halted. Lt. Cmdr. John Beal of the Coast Guard expressed condolences to Price's family, noting that the decision to suspend the search was not taken lightly.

Diver's Disappearance and the Halsey Shipwreck

Florida missing diver Virgil Price was last seen diving with three others at the Halsey shipwreck, located roughly 13 miles southeast of Fort Pierce Inlet.

The Halsey, a 435-foot long ship, was torpedoed by a German U boat in 1942, breaking into three pieces that now lie 65 feet deep on the ocean floor.

The site has become a popular destination for divers, according to CBS News.

Florida missing diver was wearing a green wetsuit with an orange stripe on the hood, yellow weights on his weight belt, and black carbon fiber fins when he went missing.

The Coast Guard's extensive search efforts, however, were fruitless. Instead, they found another man's body, further complicating the case.

The unidentified body has left authorities puzzled, with no matching missing person reports.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office is working with medical examiners to determine the cause and approximate time of death.

Given that the body had not been in the water for long, investigators hope that forensic analysis will yield more information.

The sheriff's office stated that the body's clothing and physical characteristics did not align with those of Virgil Price.

This unexpected find has added urgency to both the search for Price and the investigation into the newly discovered body.

Coast Guard and Community Reactions

The Coast Guard's decision to suspend the search for Florida missing diver was based on the extensive area already covered and the time spent looking for him. Lt. Cmdr. Beal's statement highlighted the gravity of halting such operations, emphasizing the condolences extended to Price's family and the commitment shown during the search.

The discovery has not only deepened the mystery but also affected the community involved in the search, Yahoo! News noted.

Price, a well-known figure at Florida Freedivers, a sporting goods store in North Palm Beach, was an experienced diver, which makes his disappearance more concerning.

Conditions in the area where Price went missing posed significant challenges to the search efforts.

Diving expert Paul Seldes explained that visibility in the region is often poor, and the area is prone to strong currents.

The Halsey wreck itself presents hazards such as sharp, rusty metal and entanglement risks from fishing lines, complicating the search and rescue operations.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

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