GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – The search for a 34-year-old man who fell off a boat late Sunday afternoon in Black Creek ended Monday when his body was recovered from the water.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced Steven Doktor was found Monday afternoon but did not release many new details.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office said the man fell into Black Creek about 5:30 p.m. Sunday just west of the U.S. 17 bridge.
FWC’s preliminary report identified the missing man as Doktor, saying he was holding onto the T-top aboard a 20-foot center console boat when he lost his grip and fell backward into the water. The four others on the boat never saw him again.
“FWC has the investigative responsibility. We’re just supporting them,” Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook said. “Our teams are out this morning ... and the FWC dive team and they’re going to be attempting to locate and recover the body of the boater.”
A man who told News4Jax he saw the boater hit the water hard after falling off the boat, then he began to help in the search.
The Green Cove Springs Police Department also assisted with the recovery effort.
Authorities said Black Creek is a busy area for boaters but can be dangerous because visibility in the water is low and the current can be very strong.
“We push the safety message all year round because we’re in Florida people are on the water all year round,” Cook said. “And the main things you want to look for always wear your life jacket, always keep awareness around you.”