Jeremiah Beck, 43, disappeared Wednesday while kayaking out to a boat he lives on in the St. Johns River in Putnam County.
PALATKA, Fla. — The kayaker who disappeared in the St. Johns River in Putnam County on Wednesday night was discovered deceased on Friday morning, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, as reported by First Coast News.
The individual, identified as Jeremiah Beck, 43, from Palatka, was located in the river southeast of the Memorial Bridge in Palatka at about 8:30 a.m. on Friday, as stated by the FWC.
FWC said Beck disappeared Wednesday after leaving the shore near the Memorial Bridge to go back to a boat he lives on.
“FWC offers its heartfelt sympathies to Mr. Beck’s family and friends during this challenging period,” the commission stated. “An investigation into the details of this event is ongoing. More details will be shared as they emerge.”
FWC crews spent the whole day Thursday searching for Beck. Beck’s father, Russell Beck, spent the whole day by the water, too, looking for any clues.
Russell told First Coast News he planned to spend the day there initially, fishing with his son.
According to FWC, Beck was walking with some friends Wednesday when he decided to take his kayak back to his boat in the St. Johns River.
“At some point after he left his friends, he disappeared,” said FWC spokesperson Chad Weber. “They were trying to look for him, but then they called the sheriff’s office.”
FWC found the kayak itself and some of Beck’s belongings on the shore.
More than 12 hours into the search, FWC still viewed it as a search and rescue mission with drones, side-scan sonar and a dive team deployed.
