Authorities are searching for a Colorado State University student on spring break and a charter boat crew member who went missing in turbulent Tampa Bay-area waters.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, 15 CSU students were on a charter boat anchored Tuesday evening off Shell Key when five male students went swimming.
Only four students made it back. Deputies told the that a crew member saw the fifth student was struggling and jumped into the water to help.
Deputies said the men became caught in fast-moving currents. Neither wore a flotation device. Coast Guard officials say the missing student is Jie Luo, 21, of China, and the missing crew member is Andrew Dillman, 27, of New York.
Colorado State University spokesman Mike Hooker expressed concern for the students and crew member in a statement Wednesday. He said no additional information was available.
“The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority and we are very concerned to hear of what has happened in Florida. We are gathering details and when we learn more from law enforcement, we will share information that we are able to provide. The thoughts and hope of our CSU community are for the safety of our students involved in this incident, with the missing student and charter mate and families and friends of those involved, and for the safety of rescue crews who are involved in the search.”
