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CAPE HATTERAS, N.C. -- The body of an unidentified 18-year-old man from Ripley was recovered Thursday by a search and rescue team in the Pamlico Sound at Cape Hatteras, N.C.
The youth was last seen Wednesday swimming about 100 yards from the Haulover Sound Access shoreline near an historically dredged deepwater area, according to a release from the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, which is part of the National Park Service. His identity was not released by the agency.
The search Wednesday for the missing swimmer included helicopters, boats, jet skis and shoreline observations. Early Thursday morning, an underwater search began using a side-scan sonar provided by the Hertford County Office of Emergency Management, Cape Hatteras National Seashore said.
The swimmer was found around 11 a.m. Thursday when the sonar scans identified a body on the floor of the Pamlico Sound in about 10 feet of water near where he swimmer went missing, Cape Hatteras National Seashore said. The body was recovered and brought to the shoreline where he was identified as the missing person.
"We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends during this very difficult time," David Hallac, superintendent of the National Parks of Eastern North Carolina, said.
Participating in the search were the Hatteras Island Rescue Squad, Dare County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Coast Guard, Hertford County Office of Emergency Management, Dare County Emergency Medical Services, North Carolina Marine Patrol, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and rangers from Cape Hatteras National Seashore.