NBC 6’s Darryl Forges has the latest after the body was found by crews before they resumed searching Wednesday.
A body found floating in the Blue Lagoon area near Miami International Airport early Wednesday morning has been identified as a man who went missing after falling off his personal watercraft two days before.
Chopper 6 was over the scene shortly after 7 AM as a boat could be seen near the body. NBC 6 learned FWC officials told family members it is the body of 32-year-old Manuel Aponte, who identified his body.
Aponte had been presumed dead as officials shifted the search and rescue operation to a search and recovery effort Monday evening. Divers searched for hours Monday and all day Tuesday, using sonar equipment under water to search for him – with areas of the lagoon are as deep as 60 feet.
Officials told NBC 6 they found a floating life vest alongside two watercrafts earlier Monday afternoon. The incident happened around 3 p.m. near the 5500 block of Blue Lagoon Drive. Witnesses say Aponte flew 10 feet in the air and landed head first in the lagoon.
Aponte's family said he was a good husband and father who came to America 12 years ago from Cuba.
