Drowning incident at Fort Clinch

Editor's Note:    The Fernandina Beach Police Department was contacted by the Fernandina Observer at 11:45 a.m Saturday morning June 1.  There is no updated information available.

Press Release Fernandina Beach Police Department - Thursday, May 30, 2013

James T. Hurley / Chief of Police

While patrolling the beach near Fort Clinch, a Fernandina Beach police officer

happened upon a distraught and frantic group of men that reported a drowning

incident that occurred just moments earlier.

Officer Mark Ocepek radioed for assistance at 4:32 PM and additional help

arrived in the form of Marine Units from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, the

Florida Water and Fish Commission, and the United States Coast Guard.

Officer’s scanned the beaches and rock jetties, but the young victim could not be

located.

At 6:30 PM the area was still being worked by the U.S. Coast Guard search

helicopter and rescue vessel, as well as Fernandina Beach police and EMS.

Caster Nova Gray, 17, of Nashville, GA was reportedly net fishing in shallow

water near Fort Clinch when he apparently stepped into deeper water or the

channel and immediately went under the water and did not surface. Gray

reportedly could not swim, which was later confirmed by his mother when notified

of this incident.

A companion, Hayward Collier, was close by and attempted to pull Gray to

safety, but was affected by the strong current and was unable to pull Gray from

under the water. Two others, Willie Frank Hallback, 61, and Greg Stewart, 15,

also from Nashville, GA were present and interviewed by investigators on the

scene.

Authorities are continuing the search for the victim.

June 1, 2013 11:50 a.m.