Coast Guard calls off search for missing paddleboarder last seen in Key Biscayne

The U.S. Coast Guard on Thursday evening called off its search for a man who was last seen days earlier leaving Key Biscayne on his paddleboard to go spearfishing.

Luciano Mercenari, 29, left his family’s home in Key Biscayne around 5:15 p.m. on Monday and was reported overdue to the Coast Guard about four hours later, according to the agency.

Shortly before midnight Thursday, the Coast Guard announced it had called off its search, which spanned an area of ​​about 2,220 square miles, from the waters off the Keys to Palm Beach County.

“Ceasing an active search and rescue operation is never an easy decision, and it is with heavy hearts that we extend our sincere condolences to Mr. Mercenari’s family and friends,” said Capt. Chris Cederholm, commander of Coast Guard Sector Miami, in a statement. “We are grateful to our local and state partners for their support in this joint effort.”

On Tuesday morning, a boater found Mercenari’s paddleboard and his waterproof gear bag about 4 miles off Haulover Inlet. The boater reported the found items to the Coast Guard that same evening after recognizing the paddleboard from a Coast Guard alert, according to the Coast Guard.

The approximately 70-hour search for Mercenari involved several Coast Guard vessels and aircraft, including Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Miami-Dade Police Department, Key Biscayne Police Department and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Luciano Mercenari was a rowing champion together with his twin brother Leonardo.

He attended Immaculata-La Salle High School. In 2012, the Miami Herald reported that the brothers helped lead the Miami Rowing Club’s lightweight eight to a sixth-place finish in the finals at the USRowing Junior National Championships on Melton Hill Lake.

Although the search has been called off, the Coast Guard is asking anyone with new information on Mercenari’s whereabouts to call the agency’s Miami Sector at 305-535-4300.

Miami Herald writer Milena Malaver contributed to this report.