Missing man located deceased after dinghy takes on water near the Tom Stuart Causeway in Madeira Beach

Detectives with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, FWC, and the United States Coast Guard worked to locate a missing boater in Madeira Beach.

At approximately 11:10 p.m. on Friday, May 14, 2021, deputies responded to Madeira Beach Fundamental Elementary School located at 591 Tom Stuart Causeway. The caller reported a person calling for help in the water behind the school and notified law enforcement.

According to investigators, 31-year-old Nicholas Dunski launched his dinghy from the Madeira Beach McDonalds located at 650 150^th Avenue with 33-year-old Dwight Haggins along with a 31-year-old male and a 6-year-old child. They travelled southbound under the Tom Stuart Causeway and were going to Dunski’s boat anchored offshore.

Detectives say the dinghy began to take on water and sank behind Madeira Beach Fundamental. Haggins, who was not wearing a Personal Flotation Device, was unable to swim back to shore. The others swam to shore and were uninjured.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team and Marine Unit continued to search for Haggins with the assistance of the United States Coast Guard.

As of Saturday morning, deputies assigned to the Marine Unit located the body of 33-year-old Dwight Haggins.