Search for missing paddle boarder last seen entering Pines Canal

BISCAYNE KEY – The U.S. Coast Guard and a close family friend are appealing for the public's help in locating a paddle boarder missing since 5:15 p.m. Monday.

Several agencies, including the Coast Guard, Miami-Dade police and the FWC, are searching for Luciano Mercenari, 29, a veteran and experienced paddle boarder who was last seen leaving his family's home and of entering the Pines Canal on his aquatic and orange paddle board while wearing a light gray long sleeve rashguard that was white and gray athletic shorts.

He is 6'2″ tall and weighs approximately 200 pounds.

Family friend Gretel Capriles told CBS News Miami's Peter D'Oench: “He was supposed to go to Stiltsville and he usually makes these trips in about two hours and comes back before sunset. He doesn't didn't show up, so we searched for him yesterday and today, everywhere, by sea, by air and with paddle boards around the island. We hope to find him. extraordinary and a fisherman. He also won a rowing championship and was a national champion. He lit up everyone around him.

Capriles spoke as dozens of friends and family visited the family's home in the Key Biscayne neighborhood of Cape Florida on Tuesday.

Capriles said: “He is a kind person and we are going through this area to get as many people as possible to join forces to find him. I can't tell you the words what it would mean to find him. It would be amazing and I’m sure it will happen.”

Capriles said Mercenari had never disappeared before.

On Tuesday, Miami-Dade helicopters were seen flying over Key Biscayne as FWC officers were seen near the family's home. A CBS News Miami crew even spotted an officer and his K-9.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Diana Sherbs said, “At around 9:30 Monday evening we were called and we launched a small boat from the Miami station and then a crew of MH 65 helicopter dolphins from the Miami air station and they searched until 1:15 in the morning. signs of him or the paddle board.

We hope for a positive outcome and will continue our search until we have exhausted all resources and leads.”

Sherbs said, “We get a lot of help in our work, but it never hurts to have more eyes watching.”

She urged anyone with information that could help to call the Coast Guard at (305) 535-4300.