Coast Guard looking for missing swimmer in Vilano Beach

The U.S. Coast Guard is looking for a swimmer who went missing Sunday in Vilano Beach.

St. Johns County Commander Chuck Mulligan said there were originally two missing swimmers near the Vilano Beach jetties but one of the swimmers came back to shore. The other swimmer, Jacksonville man in his early 20s, is still missing.

St. Johns Fire Rescue said it responded at 5:05 to a report of swimmers in distress near the north inlet jetty on Porpoise Point.

First responders told Action News Jax the man was swept out to sea.

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"It is an area that’s a high risk for us. So we do patrol it pretty carefully," Jeremy Robshaw of St. johns County Fire Rescue said. "This was just an unfortunate incident.”

The missing swimmer was last seen 150 yards offshore near the North Shoal, fire rescue said.

Fire rescue officials said the waves, particularly near the jetties, are strong. Strong swimmers and surfers usually swim in the area.

Multiple units and boats have been looking for the adult since they got the call. Trauma 1 helicopters are searching the area.

One Sheriffs Office vessel remains in the water while Fire Rescue will continue a patrol of the shoreline throughout the evening by car. The search will resume early tomorrow morning.

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Cox Media Group