 |
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team this morning recovered the body of a Pensacola teen believed to have drowned last night at Crab Island.
Units had responded Saturday evening around 5 p.m. to the area of Crab Island regarding multiple 911 calls in reference to a possible drowning. Upon arrival it was determined an 18 year old male was taken by the current and could not get back to his pontoon boat. Two individuals on another pontoon boat saw the victim in distress and attempted to help him. They unable to grab onto the teen due to his flailing arms. Both of the individuals who tried to rescue the victim had to be transported by EMS. One was taken to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center for near drowning and exhaustion. The other individual was transported to Destin ER for a deep laceration to his thigh.
The victim’s last known location was an “approximate” location on the northeast side of Crab Island. The OCSO Marine Unit, Florida Fish and Wildlife, Coast Guard and Destin Fire Department all had boats on scene. The victim was not located and the search for him resumed at 6:30 this morning.
The OCSO Dive Team found him about twenty minutes later in approximately nine feet of water.
He has been identified as 18-year old Zion Foster of Pensacola.
###
