TAMPA, Fla. – The Coast Guard, along with the Treasure Island Police Department, confirmed that a possible missing female swimmer near Treasure Island, Fla., was found safe at about 2:30 a.m. Monday.
The missing woman’s husband heard the story on the news and noticed that his wife matched the woman’s description. After contacting his wife, she confirmed the clothing items left on the beach were hers and he then called the Treasure Island Police Department.
The Treasure Island Police Department received the initial call Saturday at about 10:30 p.m. and notified watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, of a female in a silver/metallic bikini, approximately in her mid 30’s swimming near the swim buoy 100 yards offshore. Her clothing items, which consisted of a brown t-shirt and tan “Liz Claiborne” shorts, remained on the beach about 400 yards from the hotel. The source contacted authorities after walking up the beach a second time and noticed that her clothes were still there and she was no longer in sight.
A Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater, Fla., a 25-foot rescue boat crew from Station St. Petersburg, along with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department and Treasure Island Police Department searched approximately 55 square-miles for the possible missing swimmer.
