Coast Guard searches for migrant after body washes ashore Gulf Stream

6 Cuban migrants rescued Wednesday off Boca Raton

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The U.S. Coast Guard said it is searching for a possible Cuban migrant who attempted to reach U.S. soil Wednesday with several others, after a body washed ashore Gulf Stream Thursday morning.

Coast Guard officials said they rescued six Cuban migrants Wednesday morning about two nautical miles east of Boca Raton.

Recommended Videos



The migrants told the crew that two others were missing.

Officials said the migrants said that the others have been missing since sunset on Tuesday. A man's body washed ashore on Thursday.

The rescued migrants were in good condition. Some were treated for dehydration, officials said.

Coast Guard officials said crews searched more than 1,530 square nautical miles before suspending the initial search Wednesday evening.  

"Our search efforts Wednesday were based on unreliable and unconfirmed information," said Chris Eddy, search and rescue specialist for the 7th District. "After searching the area under ideal search conditions, with multiple Coast Guard assets, we called off the search pending any new information. With the discovery of the body in Town of Gulf Stream, we have relaunched our search efforts."

According to the Coast Guard, 5,200 Cubans have tried to leave the island by sea since Oct. 1, 2015, compared to 2014, when more than 4,400 tried to reach the U.S. through the Florida Straits.

The Palm Beach Sheriff's Office said the body was taken to the Medical Examiner's Office, where an autopsy will be performed to determine a cause of death.

The man has not been identified.


About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.