NBC 6’s Melissa Adan has more as police continue searching for clues as to what took place Sunday night.
The body of a paddle boarder who went missing Sunday night at Hobie Beach just off the Rickenbacker Causeway was found hours later, according to the Miami-Dade Police Department.
The search began before 7:00 p.m. on Sunday evening, and investigators are still looking into how the man died.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the U.S. Coast Guard used sonar equipment, helicopters and night vision to search for the missing paddle boarder. The victim's identity has not yet been released.
He was at Hobie Beach, near the Rickenbacker Causeway, and alone at the time. Other paddle boarders told responders they saw him fall off his board and struggled in the water.
"One employee grabbed a board and started to paddle out,” said Miami Fire Rescue Capt. Ignatius Carroll. "By the time he reached that area, the person already submerged under water."
Employees at SoSup, the beach water sports and boat rental business that the victim got the stand-up paddle board from said the missing man was not wearing a life vest.
“According to their policy, any time you go out in the water past the buoys, you are required to wear a life vest,” said Carroll.
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Employees also told officials it seems as though the missing man did not know how to swim and they were unaware of that.
"If you can't swim, at least wear a life vest and try to be as safe as possible if you're going alone," said Miami-Dade Police Det. Argemis Colome. "Try having someone to locate you if you need assistance or need help, so that someone could get out there and help you out."
SoSup remains closed as the investigation continues.
