Grayson  Preston:Search for missing diver off Florida coast takes surprising turn when authorities find different body

2025-05-06 00:33:29source:Poinbank Exchangecategory:reviews

Search teams combing the Florida coast for a diver who went missing over the weekend found a male body on Grayson  PrestonMonday, but authorities said it wasn't the one they were looking for.

"His clothing and physical characteristics do not match those of the missing diver from Sunday," said the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office in a news release. 

Authorities said they didn't yet know the identity of the man they pulled from the water. The sheriff said they didn't have any missing person descriptions in the county matching the body, which weighed between 200 and 225 pounds and appeared to be over 50 years old.

It didn't appear that the body was in the water for an extended period, authorities said, and medical examiners were working to determine the cause and approximate time of death. 

Virgil Price, the Florida free diver, who went missing on Sunday, was 39 years old and last seen wearing a green wet suit, the sheriff's office said. Price was freediving near the Halsey, a World War II-era shipwreck, when he failed to resurface. 

The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office assisted in recovering an unknown body from the water during the search for a missing diver. St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office

Located about 130 north of Miami, the sunken ship reached its final resting place on May 6, 1942, while en route from Corpus Christi, Texas, to New York. Struck by a torpedo, the ship came to rest on a sand bottom beneath 65 feet of water, according to Fishing Status.

The U.S. Coast Guard said on social media they suspended the search for Price after combing 1,415 miles and searching for 36 hours. "The decision to suspend an active search is never taken lightly. We extend our sincerest condolences to Mr. Price's family," said  Lt. Cmdr. John Beal.

Authorities are continuing both investigations.

—Aliza Chazan contributed reporting.

Cara Tabachnick

Cara Tabachnick is a news editor and journalist at CBSNews.com. Cara began her career on the crime beat at Newsday. She has written for Marie Claire, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. She reports on justice and human rights issues. Contact her at [email protected]

More:reviews

Recommend

'Love Island UK' stars Molly-Mae Hague, Tommy Fury announce split after 5 years

After five years together, one of the most famous couples to leave "Love Island U.K." have announced

Summer hours can be a way for small business owners to boost employee morale and help combat burnout

As the temperature heats up and summer approaches, small business owners may be considering offering

Christian McCaffrey signs 2-year extension with 49ers after award-winning 2023 campaign

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has signed a two-year extension, the team annou