The body of a missing 17-year-old swimmer was found Wednesday off the coast of Florida after she failed to return from training with her team, authorities said.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said the boy was identified as William Chan, who was visiting the Indian Shores camp with a swim team from Quebec, Canada.
Zhang was training with teammates in the Gulf of Mexico off Indian Shores when she was reported missing around 9 a.m., the sheriff’s office said.
Rick Ross, who witnessed it on the beach, said: FOX13 Tampa An adult who remained on the shore was concerned that the group had swam too far, so he waved them back to shore.
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William Chan, 17, went missing off the coast of Indian Shores, Florida, on Wednesday morning while out with his swim team. His body was recovered later that evening. (FOX13 Tampa WTVT)
“Everyone came,” Ross said. “Then she ran up the hill and asked me for the address. I said, ‘What for?'” She said, “There’s still one in the water.” Ta.
Authorities immediately began a search with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Indian Shores Police Department, and Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue.
Search and rescue teams combed the waters for hours before finding Zhang’s body. (FOX13 Tampa WTVT)
Just before 5:30 p.m., members of the underwater search and recovery team reported finding Zhang’s body.
The sheriff’s office said swim coaches told detectives they checked for ripples and hazards before the swim team entered the water.
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Zhang’s death is not believed to be suspicious, but the exact circumstances that led to the boy’s death remain unclear. Detectives said the investigation is ongoing. (FOX13 Tampa WTVT)
But Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue Chief Jeffrey Davidson said the waters Wednesday morning were choppy with visible rip currents.
“Some people thought they saw someone else, but the seas were rough and there were lots of buoys, so it was difficult to tell if it was a real person,” he told the station. ” he said.
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The investigation is ongoing, but Zhang’s death is not believed to be suspicious, the sheriff’s office said.
