KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — The Coast Guard announced Thursday night that it has suspended the search for Luciano Mercenari, "pending new information."
"Suspending an active search and rescue case is never an easy decision, and so it is with heavy hearts that we offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Mercenari’s family and friends,” said Capt. Chris Cederholm, commanding officer, Coast Guard Sector Miami. “We are grateful to our local and state partners for their assistance in this united effort."
A paddleboard and dry bag belonging to the missing South Florida paddleboarder was found about 8-11 miles offshore between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Coast Guard officials said Wednesday.
Rescue crews in the air and on the sea said Tuesday they were searching for the missing paddleboarder, who vanished off Key Biscayne in Miami-Dade County.
Mercenari was last seen Monday at 5:15 p.m. spearfishing on a paddleboard near Cape Florida on Pines Canal.
Mercenari is 29 years old, 6-foot-2, weighs about 200 pounds and has short, dark brown hair with facial hair.
#UPDATE A Good Samaritan located a paddleboard and dry bag belonging to the overdue paddleboarder 8-11 miles offshore between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. @USCG continues to search.#SAR pic.twitter.com/JCPAZBlwVs
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) June 26, 2024
The man was last seen on an aqua and orange paddleboard wearing a white shirt and gray sports shorts.
The Coast Guard asks anyone who is on the water or flying over the water off the coast of Miami, South Miami, the Florida Keys and even as far away as Bimini and the Bahamas to keep an eye out for Mercenari.
If you know the whereabouts of Mercenari, call Key Biscayne police at 305-365-5555 or the Coast Guard at 305-535-4300.
