Police find the body of the Turtle Beach Distressed Swimmer
Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC
SCSO
UPDATE: The body of missing 23-year-old male, Jose Daniel Venta Ciro, of Sarasota was recovered late Monday afternoon in the area of 9150 Blind Pass Rd. on Siesta Key. A passing boater notified the sheriff’s office, which was already conducting recovery efforts for the missing swimmer approximately ¼ mile north of where the body was located. The remains were positively identified as the missing swimmer from photographs provided to the sheriff’s office for the search.
Sarasota County Fire Department (SCFD) personnel arrived at the beach at approximately 7:30 p.m. Sunday following a call for 2-3 distressed swimmers. With the assistance of bystanders, SCFD personnel rescued all but one swimmer. Due to approaching darkness and safety concerns from the strength of the current, protracted search efforts were suspended until daylight.
The Sheriff’s Underwater Recovery Force (SURF) and sheriff’s marine units responded early Monday morning to assist with the search and recovery along with an SCFD marine unit and the United States Coast Guard. Sheriff’s units used advanced side-scan sonar provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). They focused on an underwater search based on the family’s account of where he was last seen.
The sheriff’s office, along with the Coast Guard, have suspended their recovery efforts, and the body will be turned over to the medical examiner’s office.