Body Recovered in Gulf Off South Lido Beach

Officials recovered a body Sunday morning in the Gulf of Mexico off South Lido Beach that they believe is a 19-year-old who was last seen in distress in the water Saturday night.

The male body was recovered about 200 yards off South Lido Beach around 8:50 a.m., Sarasota Police said.

Authorities had been searching for a teen who was last spotted going under the water about 50 to 75 yards offshore of South Lido Park around 6:30 p.m. Saturday. He had gotten separated from a friend while the two were swimming, according to a news release.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Coast Guard, Sarasota County Fire and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had been called in to help with the search, which was suspended around 9 p.m. Saturday because of inclement weather.

A sheriff's office helicopter spotted the body when the search resumed Sunday morning, and the Sarasota Police dive team recovered the body, officials said.

Next of kin has not been notified and the body's identity has not been released, authorities said.

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