The body of a 20-year-old man who disappeared while swimming off Bean Point Aug. 31 was recovered Sept. 1, the latest in a series of deaths in the waters at the north tip of Anna Maria Island.
Meanwhile, “No Swimming” signs have been posted in the sand at the north end, where the confluence of the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay creates strong currents.
A news release from the U.S. Coast Guard’s Public Affairs Detachment-Tampa said a crew on a boat taking part in the search from the Longboat Key Police Department recovered the body of a man a mile west of AMI. The deceased was the missing swimmer, Abhigyan Patel, 20, of Lakeland.
MCSO spokesperson Randy Warren told The Islander Sept. 4 that the preliminary cause of death was listed as drowning, pending results from the medical examiner.
About 172 square miles were searched by air and sea before Patel’s body was located.
Patel had been visiting the area with friends over the Labor Day weekend. He was last seen around 7 p.m. Aug. 31 while swimming about 25-50 yards from shore, according to a West Manatee Fire Rescue report. The friend, who called 911, told authorities that Patel went underwater and did not resurface.
A WMFR crew launched Fireboat 136 and began searching alongside Holmes Beach police and Manatee County Marine Rescue. While responders used side-scan sonar and depth-finding equipment to sweep waters 10-100 yards offshore, WMFR’s Battalion 1 established a command from shore.
Coast Guard crews from Station Cortez and Sector St. Petersburg responded and were joined by MCSO marine patrol units. Meanwhile, Longboat Key Fire Rescue deployed a boat, and a helicopter was requested from Pinellas County.
The search was suspended at nightfall due to limited visibility.
Search efforts resumed Sept. 1 with crews from the Coast Guard’s Air Station Clearwater, Station Cortez and Station St. Petersburg. Other agencies included the Palmetto Police Department, North River Fire District, Holmes Beach Police Department, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Longboat Key Police, LBK Fire Rescue and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
“We offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Patel’s family and friends,” Coast Guard Cmdr. Fredrick Pugh, a search and rescue mission coordinator at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, said in a news release. “We thank all the search and rescue crews who worked with determination around the clock with hopes of a different outcome.”
Patel’s death came less than a month after another swimmer died. On Aug. 9, a 45-year-old man was pulled under by rip currents while swimming off Bean Point and later died at a Bradenton hospital.
That same day, 73-year-old Rolando Hernandez drowned in the Gulf while swimming near the Spring Avenue access after being overtaken by currents while wading.
There were no other major water-related incidents over the holiday weekend, according to the MCSO and police in Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach.
Siddique: Lifeguard stand possible at Bean Point
Manatee County Commissioner Tal Siddique, R-District 3, said Sept. 3 that he’s working with city of Anna Maria and county officials on safety improvements at Bean Point.
During a town hall at the Island Library in Holmes Beach, Siddique said he spoke with county public safety director Jodie Fiske about the possibility of installing a temporary lifeguard stand at the island’s north end.
He said the estimated cost is $80,000 and added that he had requested data on past drownings and rescues to help determine when and where additional lifeguard coverage might be effective. Currently, the county has lifeguards at Coquina, Cortez and Manatee public beaches.
Siddique also said communication — including updated condition reports and public awareness campaigns — is a key part of improving safety.
“We don’t want someone’s only memory of Anna Maria Island to be the death of a loved one,” Siddique said. “We want people to leave with good memories, not tragedy.”
Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short, who attended the town hall, said the city had installed “No Swimming” signs at Bean Point and increased sheriff’s patrols and code enforcement in the area as an interim step.
The city is discussing permanently designating a no-swim zone at the point.
— Robert Anderson