Eyewitnesses told fire rescue crews that a 37-year-old man had gone into the water to rescue a distressed female swimmer – but he had not returned to the surface. The woman, thought to be in her late 20’s or early 30’s, was successfully brought to shore by another bystander and was uninjured.

Deputies from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the scene to control the unruly crowd, some of whom threatened both the rescued woman and rescuers at the scene.  Officials estimate that more than fifty people were at the scene.  BCSO’s STAR helicopter was dispatched to search for the missing man from until the arrival of a dive team who would continue the efforts.

All BCFR units have cleared the scene and the unidentified man is still reported missing.  The scene has been turned over to BCSO and efforts to locate the man continue.