MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A body that was found Monday afternoon near Anna Maria Island was identified as a swimmer who disappeared over the weekend.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office said 20-year-old Abhigyan Patel drowned off Bean Point on Sunday.

He was reported missing after he and a friend were caught in a riptide, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Patel's friend was rescued and brought to shore.

Several agencies joined the search for Patel. His body was found one mile west of Anna Maria Island by a Longboat Key Police Department boat.

"We offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Patel’s family and friends,” said Cmdr. Fredrick Pugh, a Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg search and rescue mission coordinator. “We thank all the search and rescue crews who worked with determination

See Full Page