22-year-old man drowned in St. Johns River while snorkeling, Volusia deputies say

ORANGE CITY, Fla. – A 22-year-old man drowned in the St. Johns River while snorkeling on Saturday, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to the scene near French Landing in Orange City at about 4:18 p.m. after the victim’s girlfriend and other witnesses reported he went missing after struggling to swim about 50 feet offshore.

Deputies say the 22-year-old’s girlfriend and multiple witnesses jumped into the water and tried to rescue him, but they lost hold of him in the current.

Agents with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, as well as Air One, responded to help with the search, deputies say.

The Volusia Sheriff’s Office’s dive team recovered the victim around 8 p.m. Saturday. He was then identified as Samuel Oche of Daytona Beach.

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