Body Of Missing Boater Reynier Marino Recovered

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The body of missing boater Reynier Marino has been recovered.

Marino's friends said they located his body early Friday morning very close to the area where his boat was found.

"This was a tragic event. We are a big boating family down here in South Florida and for something like this to happen. God bless his family. This has really been such an unfortunate incident," said Placido Rodriguez, a boater for 45 years, told CBS4

The Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed that his body has been recovered.

"Our deepest condolences extend to the family and friends of Mr. Marino," the agency said in statement.

Jesus Barroso, who had painted boats for Marino's company, said he was devastated by the loss of his friend.

Barroso told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "He always helped us out. He always talked with us. He laughed with us. I feel really sad. I feel like a good person has left us. He was always working hard and he was always with his family."

The 35-year-old owner of Hellkat Powerboats had been missing since around 7 p.m. Tuesday. Friends said he is an experienced boater who left Pelican Harbor in a boat he had just sold to test it for the new owner.

After that owner did not hear from Marino, he contacted his friends who searched for him and found the 32-foot boat with damage to its front starboard side off the Julia Tuttle Causeway between Miami and Miami Beach.

Rodriguez said this was a reminder of how careful you have to be on the water.

"Especially at night," said Rodriguez as he spoke with CBS4 at the Pelican Harbor Marina. "My boat has radar and even with that, I take my time. I obey the rules and I go slow because even though this is my backyard and I know every piling and every mark, there is always something out there. The sea and bay are very unforgiving. You can not let your guard down for one second, not one second. Sometimes you don't see at night what is floating on the water. And anything can happen to you or me. You have to be careful all the time."

A massive search was launched by the Florida Fish and Wildlife, Coast Guard, and Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue along with Marino's friends and family members who used their own boats and jet skis.

"This time of year the water is not very clear and on top of that it's not very clear where his boat was found by the Julia Tuttle and it's very murky and the water is 40 feet deep and that complicated the search," said Giovanni Delanuez.

He said he felt compelled to take part in the search.

"In the marine field, it's a close family. Everybody knows everybody and God forbid if that ever happened to me I would want someone to help out," he said.

The Coast Guard said before the body was recovered, the search had covered a large area of Biscayne Bay.

"We have covered 250 square nautical miles searching the entire Biscayne Bay from the north to the south. This is really a community effort and we have received a lot of support from local mariners and our partner agencies," said Coast Guard Lt. Iia Carter on Thursday.

FWC said it did not know how the boat was damaged.

"This is a reminder that accidents can happen no matter how experienced you are and whether you are a boat operator or a passenger, you always have to wear a life jacket. We can not stress that enough. Life jackets are essential," said Carter.

FWC said there would be a thorough investigation of the accident.