JUPITER BEACH, FL — U.S. Coast Guard crews are searching for a 48-year-old paddleboarder who was last seen near Jupiter Beach Tuesday morning.
Authorities say the man was reported missing around 9 a.m. He was wearing a white hat, orange shirt and gray shorts, and was on a 14-foot lime green and yellow paddleboard when he disappeared.
The last known location given by the Coast Guard was about four miles offshore, where he was seen paddling east.
Search focused on last known position east of Jupiter Beach
The Coast Guard’s effort is centered on the area where the man was last spotted, approximately four miles off Jupiter Beach. That position has become the key reference point for search crews trying to narrow the possible path he may have taken after leaving sight.
Officials said he was paddling east at the time he was last seen. No additional details were released about who first reported him missing or what conditions were like in the water that morning.
The man’s clothing and the color of the paddleboard were included in the Coast Guard’s description, likely to help anyone on the water identify him or spot the board if it is found adrift.
What Coast Guard officials have released so far
So far, the Coast Guard has identified the missing paddleboarder only by age and appearance. He is 48 years old and was seen wearing a white hat, orange shirt and gray shorts.
The board was described as a 14-foot lime green and yellow paddleboard. Those details are the main public identifiers available as the search continues.
No information has been released about how long he may have been in the water before he was reported missing or whether he was alone when he set out.
How the public can help the search
Anyone who has information that could help locate the paddleboarder is being asked to contact Sector Miami at 305-535-4472.
The Coast Guard did not say whether aircraft, boats or other resources were being used in the search, but the request for tips suggests officials are still gathering information on the man’s movements and possible location.
People on the water near Jupiter Beach may be in the best position to notice a paddleboard matching the description or to report anything unusual seen around the time he disappeared.
Jupiter Beach waters draw attention after morning disappearance
Jupiter Beach is a busy stretch of Florida’s Atlantic coast, and a missing person case offshore can quickly broaden the area crews need to cover. The fact that the man was last seen several miles out to sea raises the stakes for the search.
Paddleboarders can travel quickly with currents and wind, making the initial location and direction of travel important clues. In this case, the Coast Guard said the man was moving east when he was last seen.
That information gives rescuers a starting point, but it does not indicate how far he may have drifted or whether he remained on the board after he was last spotted.
No further details on the man's condition or route
Authorities have not said whether the paddleboarder was believed to be injured, in distress or simply overdue when the search began. They also have not released any update on whether the man may have reached another location.
At this point, the public description remains limited to the essentials: a 48-year-old man, white hat, orange shirt, gray shorts, and a long lime green and yellow board. Those facts are what searchers have asked the public to keep in mind.
The Coast Guard said anyone with information should call Sector Miami at 305-535-4472, where tips could help determine the man’s path or current whereabouts.
