SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard rescue aircrews stopped searching today for a swimmer who was reported missing Sunday, while swimming in The Baths on the southwestern coast of Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands.
Chris Edwards, 17, a native of Virgin Gorda, was found dead today after his body resurfaced and was recovered by a Virgin Islands Search and Rescue VISAR marine unit at approximately 9:44 a.m. about one nautical mile south of The Baths.
The Sector San Juan Joint Rescue Sub Center received and initial report from VISAR at approximately 4 p.m. Sunday that the swimmer was missing. VISAR reported that Edwards apparently got caught in the riptide and was pulled out to sea, and requested air support from the Coast Guard to find him.
Coast Guard controllers immediately launched a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen HH-65 Dolphin helicopter to assist with the search. Coast Guard rescue aircrews aggressively searched alongside VISAR, local maritime police units and Good Samaritan divers to find the missing swimmer. Since Sunday, the Coast Guard launched two HH-65 Dolphin helicopters from Air Station Borinquen, and Coast Guard helicopter crews flew approximately 5 hours, conducted four searches and covered an area of approximately 31 nautical square miles, prior to Edwards’ body being found and recovered by VISAR.
“This is a tragic case indeed, our thoughts and prayers go out to Chris Edwards’ loved ones during these difficult times,” said Capt. James Tunstall, Sector San Juan Commander.
