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.