Daytona Beach Shores, FL – Volusia County Beach Safety officers found an empty inflatable raft washed up in Daytona Beach Shores.
The raft was spotted around 4:30 AM Tuesday while the officers were patrolling the 3700 block of South Atlantic Avenue, according to Beach Safety Captain Aaron Jenkins.
“[The] raft [was] made from an old Chevy or tractor engine and a RIB hull,” Jenkins added. “No persons were located on board. Approximately 20 gallons of fuel was removed.”
Beach Safety officials say the US Coast Guard found the raft on November 1 and left a marker on it but could not say if anyone was taken off the raft at the time.
The boat was removed once the tide allowed for a tow truck to come onto the beach, according to Jenkins.
Officials from the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse plan to salvage the raft and display it since it’s believed that Cuban refugees used the boat to flee the island.
Photo of the raft posted above is courtesy of Ponce Inlet Lighthouse.
Photos of the raft posted below are courtesy of Beach Safety.
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