Police identify 20 year old who drowned off coast of AMI after getting caught in rip-current

ANNA MARIA ISLAND — A body that was recovered from the water just west of Anna Maria Island on Monday morning has been confirmed to be that of a missing swimmer who was the subject of a multi-agency search after getting caught in a rip current off Bean Point on Sunday evening.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office confirmed the identification as 20-year-old Abhigyan Patel on Tuesday, following the recovery of the body by a Longboat Key Police Department boat crew and notification of Patel's family.

At approximately 7 p.m. on August 31, witnesses reported seeing an adult male about 100 yards from the beach in the Gulf. He had been swimming with another man, who was rescued and brought to shore by people nearby, according to MCSO.

An extensive search was initiated by MCSO deputies and involved several boats, jet skis, paddleboards, and aerial support from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Coast Guard.