Categories: U.S.

Body of Florida windsurfer recovered days after going missing during Hurricane Idalia: reports

close Video

Expert gives advice for Hurricane Idalia victims looking to safely clean up debris

CrowderGulf Vice President Reid Loper joins ‘Fox News Live’ to discuss how leaders in Florida have handled the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia. 

The body of a Florida windsurfer who went missing in a river as Hurricane Idalia moved through the state last week has been recovered from the water, according to local reports.

Greggory Johnston, 60, went missing on Aug. 30 in the Banana River near the area of Kelly Park in Merritt Island, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said. 

A dog walker who had called 911 after witnessing Johnston go under the water near a bridge described the water as rough at the time.

“The waves were coming in off the river almost 3 feet tall,” Tony Fitch told FOX35 Orlando. 

DESANTIS HAMMERS CLIMATE CHANGE ALARMISTS IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS IN IDALIA’S AFTERMATH

Greggory Johnson, 60, went missing on Aug. 30 while windsurfing in the Banana River as Hurricane Idalia moved through Florida. (Brevard County Sheriff’s Office sa)

Personnel from the sheriff’s office, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Coast Guard began searching for Johnston around 7 p.m. on Aug. 30. The following morning, searchers recovered the board and windsurfing sail near the eastern shore of the river, across from Kelly Park, the sheriff’s office said.

Johnston’s body was later recovered on Aug. 31 but was not identified until Wednesday, the station reported, citing the sheriff’s office.

Video

A medical examiner’s report said that Johnston drowned while windsurfing in the river during a tropical storm warning, WKMG-TV reported, citing the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

MISSING CARNIVAL CRUISE PASSENGER’S LAST KNOWN WHEREABOUTS REVEALED AS SEARCH INTENSIFIES OFF FLORIDA COAST

FDLE confirmed Wednesday in a news release that two deaths have been attributed to Hurricane Idalia in Alachua and Brevard Counties.

No additional details were immediately released.

Video

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida the morning of Aug. 30 as a Category 3 storm before being downgraded to a Category 1 and then tropical storm later in the day.

Share

Recent Posts

How to spot and stop AI phishing scams

Artificial intelligence can do a lot for us. Need to draft an email? AI has…

10 hours ago

Space startup unveils 1-hour orbital delivery system

A Los Angeles-based aerospace startup called Inversion Space has unveiled Arc, its first flagship spacecraft…

13 hours ago

Don’t fall for fake settlement sites that steal your data

Sometimes, data breaches result in more than just free credit monitoring. Recently, Facebook began paying…

1 day ago

Google Maps vs Waze vs Apple Maps: Which is best?

Navigation apps have become an essential part of modern life. Whether you are commuting to…

1 day ago

Australian construction robot Charlotte can 3D print 2,150-sq-ft home in one day using sustainable materials

Construction robots are no longer a far-off idea. They're already changing job sites by tackling…

3 days ago

Ethernet vs Wi-Fi security comparison reveals surprising results for home users seeking protection

We spend so much time online that how we connect to the internet has become…

3 days ago