Officials search for missing boater

HAULOVER, Fla. (WSVN) -- The Coast Guard along with Florida Fish and Wildlife officials are searching for a missing boater.

Officials are searching for a boater, one of two aboard a small boat when it capsized. According to officials, the two men went out on a 17-foot boat, around 5 a.m., Monday. The other boater managed to swim to shore when the boat capsized.

Officials have not yet released the missing man's identity but have said they he is in his early 20s. Jorge Pino with FWC said, "We're very hopeful. We're not giving up, and we're still searching for him as if he's still alive. So, that's what we're trying to do at this point. Based on my past experience, the longer that it takes, the more difficult it is to find the gentleman alive, but we're still not giving up."

Multiple agencies are also helping in the search. Authorities said, even though they have not found the missing boater, they did find some clues that can help in the search. "We found a couple of sandals," Pino noted. "We found an oil bottle, and we're thinking that perhaps it may belong to this particular vessel, but we're contacting the survivor to see if it's a part of the boat or not."

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