ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – St. Johns County Fire Rescue said multiple agencies are searching for a swimmer who went missing in the area of Mickler’s Landing on Sunday afternoon.
RELATED: A letter to our viewers: Please stay out of the ocean as deadly rip currents loom Atlantic Coast
Officials identified the missing swimmer as a 20-year-old man who was last seen in the water wearing black swimming trunks.
The swimmer has been missing since around 1:45 p.m., and first responders have been searching for him since 2:15 p.m.
“He was last seen in the water just north of Mickler’s so with our search patterns and the drift and the current, it could be anywhere north or south of here,” Chris Naff of the St. Johns County Fire Rescue said.
Officials said multiple agencies are involved in the search and urged people to avoid the area to allow first responders to do their work.
Officials said they will continue the search overnight on the beach and in the water.
The FWC will be assisting as well and they will ramp up their search Monday morning.
People began forming a line and started praying for the missing swimmer and some people learned about what happened when they got to the beach.
“All of a sudden, there’s just this overwhelming feeling that came over me to try and do something in prayer and so my heart just started breaking for these people and because I mean, if it was my child, I would want somebody to do that," Antonella and Robert Parker said.
This is a developing story.
Two people were transported to local hospitals in critical condition Sunday afternoon after being pulled from the ocean in Ponte Vedra Beach and Hanna Park.
“If you can get a message out to the public to stay out of the water, we are pulling people out left and right,” an SJC Fire Rescue spokesperson told News4JAX.
On Saturday, the Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue Division urged beachgoers to stay out of the water amid dangerous ocean conditions expected throughout the weekend.
⚠️🌊 A **High Risk** of Rip Current Continues through tonight at all area beaches
— NWS Jacksonville (@NWSJacksonville) October 13, 2024
🚨 A HIGH #RipCurrent Risk means the surf is dangerous for *ALL LEVELS* of swimmers
🏖 Always follow the advice of local beach patrol & beach flags
🕶 Be #BeachSmart!#flwx #gawx #jaxwx @JaxReady pic.twitter.com/eY7R5Aof2L
The National Weather Service Jacksonville office issued a High Rip Current Risk for Duval County through the weekend.
According to SJC Fire Rescue, beaches were being closed in the southern part of the county due to the high rip currents.
If you have any information regarding the missing swimmer please call 911 immediately.