WFTV (Florida) 11 August 06 UCF Student Disappears While Trying To Tag Turtle
Melbourne Beach, Fla: The sheriff's office and the Coast Guard were searching Thursday afternoon for a University of Central Florida student who disappeared in the ocean near Melbourne Beach.
Eyewitness News was told a student conducting turtle research was in the water near a boat and disappeared. Authorities said, around 2:30 Thursday afternoon, the student was in the water near the boat attempting to identify and tag a turtle.
Eyewitnesses told searchers the turtle went down under the surface and the student went under too and vanished.
The Coast Guard placed a marker in the water and the helicopters started scanning the coastline. Meanwhile, boats circled around the water about 400 yards off shore.
Authorities believe the man may have had a weight belt on and flippers to help him swim deeper.
There were conflicting stories Thursday about whether the student dove after the turtle or somehow got tangled in a net or rope.
The search was continuing late Thursday afternoon and was expected to last until sundown.
Student Disappears While Trying To Tag Turtle