Body of missing Turtle Beach swimmer found by boater

The body of a 23-year-old swimmer who disappeared from sight off Turtle Beach on May 19 has been recovered, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office said.

Jose Daniel Venta Ciro and several other people were swimming off Turtle Beach at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday evening.

Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Evan Keats said the Sarasota County Fire Department responded to a call of swimmers in distress May 19 at about 7:25 p.m. at Turtle Beach, near the 8900 block of Midnight Pass Road. 

When firefighters arrived, good Samaritans had already rescued at least two other swimmers in the area. The initial rescue was hampered by a language barrier, Keats said at a news conference Monday afternoon. 

One swimmer, Ciro, was unaccounted for, Keats said. 

The Sheriff's Office and fire department's marine units, assisted by the U.S. Coast Guard, searched that evening until operations were suspected around midnight. 

The search resumed at 8 a.m. with the addition of Sheriff's Office divers and side-scan sonar. Keats noted currents in the area were strong and water visibility was only 1-2 feet.

The next afternoon, a passing boater notified authorities of a body in the water about a quarter-mile from the search site. The body was positively identified from photographs provided to deputies. 

Ciro's body was turned over to the Sarasota County medical examiner's office, the sheriff's office said.