Body Found Near Bean Point Beach Believed to be Missing Swimmer Abhigyan Patel

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. – A search for a missing swimmer near Anna Maria Island’s Bean Point Beach has concluded with the grim discovery of a body, which authorities believe to be that of 20-year-old Abhigyan Patel. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office reported that the body was found just west of where Patel disappeared.

According to officials, Patel, an aviation student from Lakeland, was swimming with a friend shortly before 7 p.m. on Sunday when he was caught in a rip current. While his friend was rescued and brought to shore, Patel was swept away. He was last seen wearing an olive green shirt, about 100 yards off Bean Point Beach, according to the US Coast Guard.

The search operation, involving multiple loc

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