KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed Wednesday morning that the paddleboard belonging to a missing 29-year-old man has been located by a Good Samaritan.
The man, Luciano Mercenari, remains missing. His family, as well as multiple agencies, continue searching for him each day.
According to the Coast Guard, Mercenari’s paddleboard and dry bag were found 8-11 miles offshore between Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
A source told Local 10′s Annaliese Garcia that the board was found 7 miles off the Hillsboro Inlet.
The Coast Guard confirmed earlier this week that the 29-year-old was last seen around 5:15 p.m. Monday leaving Cape Florida on Pines Canal in Key Biscayne.
Coast Guard officials said Mercenari was spearfishing on his paddleboard, and wearing a light gray long sleeve “Reef Cheefs” rash guard and gray sports shorts.
According to officials, Mercenari is 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs about 200 pounds. He has dark brown, short cut hair and short-shaven facial hair.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call local police at 305-365-5555 or the Coast Guard at 305-535-4300 or 786-316-1074.
“If you are heading out on the water or flying over the water, please be vigilant,” the Coast Guard said in a news release. “This request extends to anyone in the waterways off the coast of Miami, South Miami, the Florida Keys, and even as far as Bimini and the Bahamas.”
Local 10 News reporter Annaliese Garcia contributed to this report.