VILANO BEACH, Fla. – The search for a local college student who disappeared Sunday in the water off Vilano Beach shifted from a rescue mission to a recovery mission, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said Monday.
The missing swimmer was identified as as Skyler Christian Taylor, 20. Friends said Taylor attends Florida State College at Jacksonville and graduated from Orange Park High School, where he was on the wrestling team.
Early Sunday evening, the St. Johns County Marine Rescue along with the Sheriff's Office responded to a report of two swimmers in distress along Porpoise Point in Vilano Beach.
One of the two swimmers was able to make it back to shore. First responders said they could see the other swimmer by binoculars, about 150 yards out from the mid-point of the jetties, but then he was lost to sight.
According to St. Johns County Fire Rescue, the initial 911 call came in at 5:31 p.m., first responders arrived on the beach at 5:39 p.m. and one minute after that jet ski teams arrived at the Vilano Beach Pier.
By 5:44 p.m., jet ski teams had been launched into the water. SJCFR spokesperson Jeremy Robshaw told News4Jax that the jet ski team launched from the pier because the sand on the beach is still too soft from Hurricane Matthew to be driveable.
Eight boats and a helicopter were involved in the multi-agency search efforts, which began at 5:30 a.m. Monday.
Deputies said they suspended the search 10½ hours later, and will re-evaluate Tuesday morning.
Kailyn Wood told News4Jax Monday that she was on a boat out in the water at the time when Taylor disappeared, but did not see him. She added Sunday's rough surf conditions kept her and her child out of the water.
"Ever since I had my kid, I just prefer not to go in the water. It's just scary. I think about what's the worst possible thing that could happen to me, and it's just, like, I'd rather not," Wood said. "I hope they find him, I mean, I wouldn't know what to do if I ever lost my daughter, Eileen. She's at a young age. But that's anybody. Like I know my parents would be devastated if they knew I wasn't coming home so I pray for them I hope they find him."
A friend of the man, who did not wish to be identified, said Taylor is a good swimmer.
"I'm just shaken. It's crazy to think about," he said.
He added that when the news went out that a swimmer was missing, the entire beach community came together to search. One of Taylor's childhood friends told News4Jax that even with the search shifting from rescue to recovery, he's hopeful about the outcome. Beachgoers shared the same sentiments.
"Prayers go out to their family and, hopefully, you know, search and rescue finds him and everything will be OK," Wood said.
FSCJ issued the following statement:
"The faculty, staff and students of FSCJ remain hopeful as the recovery efforts continue in the search for Skyler Christian Taylor. Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time."
Despite what happened at the beach less than 24 hours earlier, and red flags flapping in the wind, dozens of swimmers could be seen in the water.
"I've noticed here and at Jax Beach, they've been talking about the rip currents have been really bad, so you're not allowed to go out certain distances and I know you're not allowed to go near these rocks because the inlet takes you in," said beachgoer Tori Struble. "It's tragic because I feel like kids these days, things are happening to them so young and it's just sad to hear something like that. I hope they find him, that's for sure."
Last year, there were five drownings reported at area beaches, and five in 2015. This would be the first drowning at Vilano Beach since 2007, according to News4Jax records.