Crews locate body of missing paddleboarder near Stearns Wharf

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office announced that the body of a missing male paddleboarder was located Saturday evening.

A dive team from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office was on a boat in the area for a recertification training and assisted in the recovery.

Crews removed the man’s body from the water near Stearns Wharf at around 5:45 p.m.

He has been identified as a 30 year old man from Uganda. His name was being withheld while family members were notified.

We will add more information as it becomes available.

—————————————–

[Original Story]

Emergency crews are searching for a missing male paddleboarder* near the pier at Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara.

At around 4:20 p.m., witnesses say the was with a female paddleboarder when he fell into the water and never resurfaced.

Santa Barbara City Fire Department swimmers conducted a search in the waters between the pier and buoy number 6.

A Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s dive team and the Coast Guard responded to aid in the search. The water in the area is about 30 feet deep.

KEYT has a crew at the scene and we will have the latest updates as they become available.

*Correction: The original story stated that the paddleboarder was a woman. This latest update reflects the most accurate information.