Search Called Off For Man Who Fell Off Charles Island Sandbar (UPDATE)

MILFORD, CT — Police have identified a man who was presumed dead after being swept off of a sandbar by a wave leading to Charles Island Friday, NBC Connecticut reports. The man was identified as 28-year-old George Swaby, of Bridgeport.

Late Saturday afternoon, Milford fire officials said the search for Swaby had been called off.

"A large portion of Long Island Sound in the area of Charles Island was methodically searched by marine and airborne units from multiple agencies," fire officials said in a statement. "Units employed side scan sonor technology in order to locate the 28 y/o male, but were unsuccessful."

Swaby's family told WTNH that he lived in Milford. The family is originally from Jamaica and Swaby is the youngest of five siblings, according to the WTNH report.

A private boat was able to rescue the man's friend. Police officials said both men couldn't swim and they rode their bikes from Stratford to Milford's Silver Sands State Park.

Fire Battalion Chief Anthony Fabrizi said at about 12:45 p.m., Milford Fire dispatch received a 911 call reporting two men in their mid 20s had been swept off the Charles Island sandbar.

One man was wearing a life vest and had been rescued by a private vessel and was evaluated by fire paramedics on the scene. The second man was wearing a backpack and had slipped below the surface of the water, Fabrizi said.

Milford police spokesman Michael DeVito said an extensive search was conducted and the U.S. Coast Guard had also sent a boat. DeVito said the two young men rode their bikes from Stratford to Silver Sands and walked out onto the sandbar. Neither person could swim, DeVito said. He said a wave knocked both men off the sandbar and into the water.

Milford Fire Marine units were joined by the Eagle 3 helicopter, Stratford Police jetskis, Milford police and fire department divers.

Reporting by Brian McCready

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