Flagler County Rescue Teams Searching for Missing Jet Ski Rider

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on February 25, 2021

Search efforts are currently underway by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and rescue teams with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) as they attempt to find an 18-year-old jet ski rider who fell off his watercraft after crashing into a large wave along the Intracoastal Waterway on February 24^th, 2021.

According to preliminary reports from deputies with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, 18-year-old Richie Volmar was last seen riding his brand new jet ski with a friend at approximately 2:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon near Bing’s Landing Park on the Intracoastal Waterway. Volmar’s mother, Rosechelly Medina, was with her son at the time of the incident and had just purchased the jet ski two days prior to them going out on the waterway. Her first-hand account indicated that everything was fine until a rogue wave presented itself in the path of Volmar’s jet ski and caused it to turn upside-down. “When they hit the wave they flipped, and when they flipped, they both flew off and he was screaming for help,” she told police.

Dyson Richardson, the passenger on the jet ski when it crashed, stated that he was the only one wearing a life jacket at the time and although he desperately tried to save his friend, by the time he was able to regain his bearings and swim over to the area that Volmar was previously located, he was no longer there.

Once the Flagler County Sheriff’s Department was made aware of the missing young man, they contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and dispatched emergency dive teams, rescue helicopters, and additional manpower to scour the shores around the area where they believe the 18-year-old went into the water.

Authorities have yet to turn up any evidence leading to the teen’s whereabouts and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has suspended the search for the evening, although the FWC will remain on the scene overnight.

The point within the Intracoastal Waterway where the jet ski flipped over is close to 15 feet deep, which would be tricky to navigate as an experienced swimmer, let alone someone who was probably disoriented from being thrown from his watercraft into the chilly waters. Dangerous currents, leg cramps, severe head wounds, and concussions are the primary concerns for a victim involved in a watercraft or boating accident, and any one of them could have easily prevented Volmar from resurfacing after the collision.

Sources:

• Flagler crews suspend search for 18-year-old who fell off jet ski in Intracoastal Waterway

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.