TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Coast Guard finds body near Port of Manatee

ADVERTISEMENT

TBO.com

Published: October 27, 2009

Updated: 10/28/2009 12:07 am

Officials found the body Tuesday night of who they think is the man who fell off a boat near the Port of Manatee, northeast of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

Gerard Dube of Riverview contacted authorities just after 5:30 p.m. to alert them that a 35-year-old man on the small pleasure boat fell overboard.

Dube told officials that he and the victim, who hasn't been named, went fishing off the coast of Hillsborough County, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office said.

He said the victim fell overboard and couldn't get back into the boat, the sheriff's office said. Dube said to investigators that he tried to help the victim get back on the boat, but after 45 minutes the victim began throwing up, moaned and became lifeless, according to the sheriff's office.

The victim floated off, Dube said to investigators.

Agencies began searching around 6 p.m. an area of about 8 miles by 6 miles.

The body was found about two miles northeast of the Port Manatee channel, Coast Guard officials said. The remains will be taken to the Coast Guard station in St. Petersburg and then transferred to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Share this:

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT