Rescue teams searching for missing man last seen swimming at Washington waterfront

Published 3:04 pm Saturday, September 5, 2020

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Washington Police and Fire-Rescue-EMS are searching for a man who was seen swimming off the Washington waterfront, but is now missing.

According to Chief Stacy Drakeford, a caller reported the man missing at 1:57 p.m.

“We’re looking for a swimmer. He got off his boat and, evidently, he was attempting to swim to Goat Island, and he went down and nobody has seen him since,” Drakeford said.

Goat Island, also known as Castle Island, is right off the downtown Washington waterfront promenade.

Bunyan Fire Department is assisting the search effort, and Drakeford said the Sydney Dive Team is on its way, as are North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission officers and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Drakeford said they are currently looking for witnesses who saw the man swimming.

This report will be updated with new developments.