Coast Guard suspends the search for a missing paddleboarder last seen in Key Biscayne
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search Thursday night for a man last seen leaving Key Biscayne days earlier on his paddleboard to go spearfishing.
Luciano Mercenari, 29, departed from his family’s home in Key Biscayne around 5:15 p.m. Monday and was reported overdue to the Coast Guard about about four hours later, according to the agency.
Right before midnight Thursday, the Coast Guard said it was calling off its search. It spanned about 2,220 square miles, from the waters off the Keys to Palm Beach County.
“Suspending an active search and rescue case is never an easy decision, and so it is with heavy hearts that we offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Mercenari’s family and friends,” Capt. Chris Cederholm, commanding officer, Coast Guard Sector Miami, said in a statement. “We are grateful to our local and state partners for their assistance in this united effort.”
On Tuesday morning, a boater found Mercenari’s paddleboard and waterproof gear bag about 4 miles off Haulover Inlet. The boater reported the located items to the Coast Guard that night after recognizing the paddleboard from an alert the Coast Guard issued, according to the service.
The approximately 70-hour search for Mercenari comprised of multiple Coast Guard vessels and aircraft, along with agencies including Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the Miami-Dade Police Department, the Key Biscayne Police Department and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Luciano Mercenari was a rowing champion alongside his twin brother Leonardo.
He attended Immaculata-La Salle High School. In 2012, the Miami Herald reported the brother’s helped propel the Miami Rowing Club men’s lightweight eight boat to place sixth in the finals at the USRowing Junior National Championships on Melton Hill Lake.
Although the search has been called off, the Coast Guard is asking anyone with new information on Mercenari’s whereabouts to call the agency’s Sector Miami at 305-535-4300.
Miami Herald staff writer Milena Malaver contributed to this report.
