Home Care In Jensen Beach, FL

JENSEN BEACH, Fla. —

The body of a 17-year-old swimmer who went missing Monday morning off Jensen Beach has been recovered.

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Nick Lovensen Alincy went missing shortly before 7 a.m. Monday.

Alincy and his girlfriend went to take photographs at Sea Turtle Beach but after venturing into the water multiple times, he was pulled underwater.

'This is a tragedy': Loved ones of 17-year-old Nick Alincy share his legacy, soccer club holds remembrance vigil

"Went into the water, swam for a little while, came back out, went back into the water. And unfortunately, the second time he went back out, he disappeared," Chief Deputy John Budensiek of the Martin County Sheriff's Office said.

Eyewitnesses also reported seeing him farther down the beach before he vanished beneath the waves.

A large-scale search operation involving divers, rescue boats, and the sheriff's office helicopter was in for more than 24 hours.

However, given the duration of his disappearance and the expanding search area, authorities transitioned from a rescue mission to a recovery operation Monday afternoon.

Hundreds gather in Port St. Lucie to remember teen swimmer who drowned at Jensen Beach

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Sea Turtle Beach and the beaches to the south have been marked with double red flags, indicating dangerous conditions.

Alincy's body was recovered shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday, just south of Bathtub Beach, about five miles where he went into the water.

Rip current threat this week and how to stay safe

JENSEN BEACH, Fla. — The Martin County Sheriff's Office said Monday afternoon that the intense search for a missing 17-year-old boy, who disappeared after getting caught in a rip current, has become a "search and recovery" mission.

Martin County Fire Rescue said Nick Lovensen Alincy, a Fort Pierce resident who attends St. Lucie West Centennial High School, was reported missing just before 7 a.m.

The teen entered the water near the 4300 block of Northeast Ocean Boulevard in Jensen Beach, although it's unclear what time he went in.

WATCH: Chopper 5 video of search for missing swimmer

The Martin County Sheriff's Office said that, according to a witness, it appeared that Alincy got caught in a rip current during an early morning swim. The current pulled him farther out into the water, the sheriff's office said.

"It goes from a shallow shelf to a drop-off," Chief Deputy John Budensiek of the Martin County Sheriff's Office said. "So, if you're not a strong swimmer, rip current or not, you could be in big trouble out here."

Marine and aviation units, a dive team, and road patrol deputies and detectives from the Martin County Sheriff's Office, along with Martin County Fire Rescue, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are now searching for Alincy.

Fire rescue crews had special dive teams doing a parallel line search, allowing them to use the current and float with it to see if anything was below the surface.

"They're able to stay together and get an idea of where they're searching and increase the odds of finding the swimmer," Cory Pippin with Martin County Fire Rescue said.

The dive teams came out of the water by mid-afternoon. The investigation is now in the hands of the sheriff's office.

WPTV saw some distraught family members at the beach waiting for any news.

The scene was unlike the calm that most beachgoers experience.

"I can't imagine what the mother is going through," Michele Alexander of Jensen Beach said. "I hope they find him."

Double red flags are flying to keep people out of the water from Jensen Beach south to Stuart Beach.

First responders said they would continue their search until the teen was located.

Alincy was last seen wearing blue and pink shorts. If you've seen him, call the U.S. Coast Guard at 305-535-4472.

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MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. —

Loved ones of Nick Alincy, 17, whose body was recovered at Bathtub Beach in Martin County on Tuesday morning, share with the world his legacy.

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"Nick is just this kid that you want to love... He’s that kid who just can get you to just be who you need to be around him" Elda Jean, Nick Alincy's aunt, said.

On Monday morning, Alincy and his girlfriend were at Sea Turtle Beach, taking pictures. Officials say he then went into the waters for a swim but had not resurfaced.

"He was supposed to be here with a lot of friends, they were just coming late, and he happened to arrive here earlier than them," Jean said.

Soon after, a multi-agency search began as law enforcement officials and first responders looked for the missing teen.

Body of teen who went missing after early morning swim off Jensen Beach recovered

Martin County Fire Rescue, Martin County Sheriff's Office, FWC, and the U.S. Coast Guard had been patrolling the beaches throughout the day and throughout the night.

"I can’t imagine what the family’s going through, knowing that their loved one is somewhere in this vast ocean not knowing for sure that he had not made it, having some hope but also being realistic," Martin County Chief Deputy John Budensiek said.

After a more than 24-hour search, deputies had found Alincy's body about five miles south from where he had vanished.

"This is a tragedy, this is drama, this is our reality that this family is dealing with," Jean said.

"It’s hard, sorry. It’s hard," Richard Alincy, his older brother, said.

Loved ones were also searching throughout the night with flashlights in hopes of finding the 17-year-old.

"We did have deputies on the beach with flashlights," Budensiek said. "If it was any of our loved ones, we would expect the same."

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WPBF 25 News learned that Alincy played for the PSL Soccer Club and was a passionate athlete. On Tuesday evening at Swan Park in Port St. Lucie, loved ones and community members plan to gather for a remembrance vigil.

"Nick was Nick ! He always had a smile on his face that was contagious. He loved to play soccer so much that during his lunch breaks he would leave work to come train with the team and then run back before his break ended. Nick would kick the ball around with the siblings of the other players and volunteer his time in coaching at our recreational level. Nick touched a lot of lives and he will be missed and celebrated. We will miss Nick on and off the Field and we love our #5!!" Director of Coaching Manny Ardeljan told WPBF 25 News.

The vigil is scheduled for 8 p.m.

, Fla. —

The mother of a woman hit by a vehicle on the Treasure Coast is pleading for someone with information about what happened to come forward and contact law enforcement.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office confirms detectives are investigating an incident involving a vehicle and pedestrian on the 10000 block of South Ocean Drive in Jensen Beach, which occurred at about 7:20 p.m. on Saturday.

Family members say 20-year-old Rae Landgrebe was crossing the roadway, in a crosswalk, when she was hit by a vehicle that drove away.

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"She’s in excruciating pain,” said Karissa Landgrebe, Rae Landgrebe's mother.

Rae Landgrebe is recovering at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital. She has breaks to her vertebrae, pelvis and tailbone as well as road burn and cuts on her face.

Courtesy: Karissa Landgrebe

Rae Landgrebe

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"The next thing she knew all she saw was headlights and that’s all she could really remember and the next thing she knew she was on the other side of the road being helped,” said Karissa Landgrebe.

Karissa has been trying to keep Rae's spirits up as Rae begins the long process of trying to heal.

"I’m grateful to God that she is alive. God definitely had angels watching over her. It’s the scariest feeling a parent could ever feel,” said Karissa Landgrebe.

Right now, a top concern on the family’s mind is whether the driver who hit Rae will be brought to justice.

"If someone knows or saw anything, just please, please come forward. That’s all we ask,” said Karissa Landgrebe. "I don’t think someone should just be able to hit someone with a car and just be able to drive off like nothing happened. What if that was their child who got hit if they had a child? I mean how would that make them feel? I mean as a mother, it’s — you can’t even imagine."

If you have any information about what happened you're urged to call the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office at 772-462-7300.

The family has set up a Go Fund Me page to help Rae during this difficult time. Click here to visit that page.

Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.

UPDATE: The body of Nick Lovensen Alincy was recovered at Bathtub Beach in Stuart around 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office reports. That’s about five miles south of where he was last seen, officials said.

The original story continues below.

A 17-year-old boy went missing in the Atlantic Ocean, just minutes after a photo session showed him greeting the sunrise with arms raised, according to Florida officials.

Nick Lovensen Alincy of Fort Pierce vanished around 6:45 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 6, in waters off Sea Turtle Beach, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. Sea Turtle Beach is in Jensen Beach, about 115 miles north of Miami.

“A witness said it appears Nick got caught up in rough surf during an early morning swim that was pulling him further out into the water,” the sheriff’s office said.

Alincy and his girlfriend arrived at the beach at daybreak to take some “neat photos of the sunrise,” Chief Deputy John Budensiek said in an interview posted on Facebook by WPBF.

“Several individuals have since reported to us that a few yards down the beach, they also saw Mr. Alincy in the surf before he went under. (He) has not since resurfaced,” Budensiek said.

“Really, this is a needle in a haystack type of recovery operation.”

Alincy played soccer for the PSL Hurricanes FC, a youth club, and was “a dedicated student-athlete at St. Lucie West Centennial High School,” according to a fundraiser.

The search includes Martin County dive teams and aviation units, and officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, officials said.

Swift flowing rip currents that drag people out to sea are the most common cause of beach fatalities along Florida, according to the National Weather Service.

“Rip currents are often referred to as drowning machines by lifeguards,” NOAA reports.

“Speeds are typically 1-2 feet per second, but speeds as high as 8 feet per second have been measured. That is faster than an Olympic swimmer! Drowning deaths occur when people, pulled away from the shoreline, are unable to keep themselves afloat.”

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September 21, 2023 10:46 AM

This story was originally published November 6, 2023, 11:28 AM.