TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa authorities recovered the body of a man on Monday afternoon, bringing a somber close to a search that began after he disappeared while paddleboarding over the weekend.
The discovery was made near the Courtney Campbell Causeway around noon, following a multi-agency effort to locate him.
The situation first came to light on the evening of March 29, when the man’s family contacted the Tampa Police Department just after 9:00 p.m. to report him missing.
Family members told officers that the man was last seen on his paddleboard near the 7700 block of West Courtney Campbell Causeway around 4:00 p.m. the previous Saturday.
Poor visibility and weather conditions delayed the start of the recovery mission, but search and rescue teams launched into action as soon as the morning light improved on Monday. Specialized units from the Tampa Police Department, joined by several partner agencies, focused their efforts on Old Tampa Bay.
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The first significant break in the search came at approximately 11:00 a.m. Monday, the Tampa Police Marine Unit found the man’s paddleboard and some of his personal belongings on the west side of the bay.
Exactly one hour later, searchers located and recovered the body near the Courtney Campbell Causeway bridge.
While the investigation into the circumstances of the death remains open, police officials stated that foul play does not appear to be a factor at this time.
The man’s identity has not yet been released, as authorities are still working to confirm his identity and notify his next of kin. Additional details are expected to be released as the investigation progresses.
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