On Wednesday May 18, 2022 at approximately 6:40 p.m., deputies responded to John’s Pass in Madeira Beach after reports of four people struggling to swim. All four swimmers were about one hundred yards west of the swim buoys near John’s Pass.
According to detectives, three of the four swimmers were rescued by citizens utilizing paddle boards. The fourth swimmer, later identified as 21-year-old
Ritvik Dammoju of Virginia, continued to struggle and was further west of the paddle boarders.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, Flight Unit, Dive Team, FWC, firefighters from multiple agencies and the Coast Guard all responded and actively searched for the missing swimmer.
The search efforts continued throughout the next two days and on May 20th, 2022 at approximately 8:00 a.m., the Marine Unit and Dive Team recovered Dammoju’s body about one half mile west of the John’s Pass Bridge.
The incident does not appear to be suspicious in nature.
The investigation continues.