Body of missing Ontario swimmer found in waters off Florida beach

The body of a Toronto-area man has been found in the waters off a Florida beach a day after he went missing while swimming in dangerous conditions.

Capt. Andrew Ethridge with Volusia County Beach Safety said 24-year-old Russell Cates, of Oshawa, was found about three metres offshore in Ormond-by-the-Sea by a fisherman around 10:45 a.m. Tuesday.

A death investigation is underway but “at this point it fits all of the criteria of an accidental drowning,” Ethridge said.

Ethridge said Cates had been reported missing Monday afternoon after he was swimming in chest-deep waters in an unprotected area of Daytona Beach with some friends.

“He was out there with his friends and they turned around and noticed he had gone,” he said.

“Nobody witnessed him go under the water.”

Ethridge said the beach at the time was flying a red hazard flag due to high seas and strong currents.

Cates’ body was found some 16 kilometres north of where he was swimming, he said.

Ethridge said the Oshawa man’s family are to arrive Wednesday to retrieve his body.