ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. -- The U.S. Coast Guard has grounded flight crews searching for survivors off the Atlantic Beach coast after the body of a man was found Sunday. Two helicopters expected to be involved in the search were kept on land due to heavy wind and rain early Monday.
A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission crew spotted the body Sunday shortly after 6:00 p.m. in the Atlantic Ocean about 22 miles east of the entrance to the St. Johns River.
Along with the body, they say, they found debris, including two large pieces of a boat, 10 life jackets, flares and an oil sheen.
Right now, it is not known whether there are additional victims in the water.
A boat crew from Naval Station Mayport in Atlantic Beach along with a C-130 Hercules plane from Air Station Clearwater, Florida are searching the area.
The Coast Guard Cutter Cormorant is en route and the Coast Guard Cutter Kingfisher is slated to join the search Monday morning.
Anyone with information about the debris field is urged to contact watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville at 904-564-7511.
