Tragic drowning of young snorkeler in Florida's St. Johns River
A 22-year-old man drowned while snorkelling in Florida's St. Johns River over the weekend. Emergency crews launched a search after Samuel Oche was reported missing underwater by his girlfriend and witnesses.
The incident unfolded when Oche struggled while swimming roughly 50 feet from the shore. His girlfriend and others at the scene raised the alarm after he failed to resurface.
The Volusia Sheriff's Office (VSO) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) responded quickly to the scene. Their teams conducted an extensive search of the river, which stretches over 500 kilometres from its headwaters to the Atlantic coast.
By around 8 p.m., the VSO dive team recovered Oche's body from the water. The St. Johns River, known as Florida's longest river, has seen numerous incidents in recent years. Between 2021 and 2025, the FWC recorded 347 non-fatal boating accidents along its waters, with figures remaining steady each year.
The recovery marks the end of the search operation. Authorities have not released further details about the circumstances leading to Oche's drowning. The incident remains under investigation by local agencies.
