A weekend paddleboarding outing in Old Tampa Bay ended in heartbreak Monday when Tampa authorities recovered the body of a missing man near the Courtney Campbell Causeway, concluding a multi-agency search that had stretched into a second day. Crews had first found a paddleboard and personal items offshore before locating the body, and investigators say there is currently no clear sign of foul play.
According to the Tampa Free Press, the man's family contacted Tampa Police just after 9:00 p.m. on March 29 to report him missing. They told officers he was last seen on his paddleboard near the 7700 block of West Courtney Campbell Causeway around 4:00 p.m. the previous Saturday. Police have not yet released his identity as they work to confirm it and notify relatives.
Search Teams Found Paddleboard Before Recovering Body
Authorities say recovery efforts were slowed at first by poor visibility and difficult weather conditions. Once light and conditions improved Monday morning, search-and-rescue crews launched a renewed push on the water. Around 11:00 a.m., the Tampa Police Marine Unit located the man's paddleboard and some personal belongings on the west side of the bay, the Tampa Free Press reported.
Roughly an hour later, searchers found and recovered the body near the Courtney Campbell Causeway bridge. Police told the outlet that "foul play does not appear to be a factor" at this stage of the investigation, which remains open.
Why Small Craft Are Vulnerable Here
Under Florida law, stand-up paddleboards are treated as vessels, which means paddlers are expected to follow many of the same safety rules as boaters. As outlined by Florida Fish and Wildlife, that includes carrying a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket, having a sound-producing device on board and using lights when visibility drops.
The agency warns that glare, fog and choppy water can make small craft especially hard to spot. Officials recommend that paddlers file a float plan, wear bright clothing and consider using a leash to stay connected to their boards. Those precautions can matter even more on busy stretches like the Courtney Campbell Causeway, where boat traffic and shifting currents can raise the stakes in a hurry.
Local Context
The Courtney Campbell Causeway has seen its share of emergencies and recovery operations in recent years. A November 2024 report that "two bodies found off Courtney Campbell" highlighted similar conditions and coincided with a high rip-current advisory in the area. Local paddlers have long said that the mix of currents and heavy boat traffic can turn an otherwise routine outing into something far more dangerous.
Tampa police say they will release additional details once the man's identity is confirmed and his family is fully notified. The department is asking anyone with information about the incident to contact investigators. As the case unfolds, the waterfront community is left to process another tragic loss on a stretch of bay that is as beloved as it is unforgiving.
