Sebring police call off Lake Jackson search after missing diver reportedly accounted for and safe

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Courtesy: Sebring Fire Department

SEBRING, Fla. - A search for a pair of possible missing divers has been called off after police confirmed there was only one diver who has been accounted for and is safe. 

The backstory:

Multiple agencies, including the Sebring Police Department, began looking for two divers on Lake Jackson around 8 p.m. on Sunday after a 911 call came in regarding distressed swimmers. 

Using binoculars, an officer saw someone in the water with a snorkeling mask.

"Given that it was 8:25 p.m., they had a hard time maintaining a visual and lost visual confirmation," Commander Mike Cutolo shared.

Multiple agencies, including Highlands County Emergency Management and the FWC, launched boats utilizing sonar and deployed drones to search the water and did not find anything. 

Dig deeper:

Police focused their search primarily from the Sebring Elks Lodge all the way to the pier; however, they scoured the entire lake.

The police commander says snorkeling near the city pier or the beach isn't uncommon.

Police said they didn't receive any reports of missing people, and no cars were left parked overnight.

Shortly before 5 p.m. on Monday, police announced that the missing diver was accounted for and was safe. 

Police said a caller saw news reports of the search efforts and thought they may be the swimmer in question. 

That individual told detectives they had been swimming in the area and once boats began to arrive on scene, they swam to the area of the Elks Lodge and exited the water. 

Detectives said they looked at video from an area surveillance camera that showed the swimmer in question getting out of the water. 

Police said there was no second diver. 

What they're saying:

In a press release, the Sebring Police Department shared, "Due to the swimmer reporting that they were alone, along with no evidence to support any other swimmers missing at this time, the Sebring Police Department has suspended any further search efforts. We extend our gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to the many agencies that assisted with this search. Further, we appreciate all the assistance that the community provided by sharing information and helping with this incident. We are relieved that this outcome resulted in everyone returning home safe!"