The family of a professional diver and spearfisher, Luciano Mercenari, is seeking help from a navigation company after he went missing while paddleboarding off the coast of Key Biscayne, Florida. Luciano was wearing a GPS-enabled Garmin brand diving watch when he disappeared, according to his cousin, Allegra Jacchia. She took to social media with the hashtag #FindLuc, hoping that Garmin would release the location data from the watch.
Jacchia explained that they contacted Garmin, but the company stated that since the watch had not been synced to a phone since March, there was no way to track Luciano’s location. Despite their pleas for help, Garmin has not been very cooperative in providing more information to assist in locating him. Key Biscayne Police issued a Missing Person report for Luciano Mercenari, who was last seen wearing a long white tee shirt.
A Garmin spokesperson acknowledged the concern of Luciano’s family and friends and assured that they have been in touch with local authorities since early Tuesday morning. The company is committed to supporting efforts to find Luciano. Surveillance footage captured Luciano leaving his residence on Monday wearing a long white sleeve shirt, black and red shorts, and carrying a gray backpack.
Although Luciano’s paddleboard was found intact by civilians, his whereabouts remain unknown. His paddleboard, along with his wet bag containing a mask, snorkel, gloves, and water bottle, was discovered 3½ miles off the coast of Pompano. Search efforts involving Florida Fish and Wildlife officials, the U.S. Coast Guard, and local police departments are ongoing, utilizing boats, helicopters, and planes to locate Luciano.
Despite the distress and uncertainty surrounding Luciano’s disappearance, Jacchia emphasized that the family is not losing hope and is doing everything possible to find him. Key Biscayne police have urged anyone with information on Luciano Mercenari’s whereabouts to contact them at 305-365-5555. The community’s support and cooperation are crucial in the search for Luciano, a beloved member of a close-knit family.