Florida man disappears after launching canoe near Tampa

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Coast Guard

A body matching the appearance of a missing Pinellas Park man was found Sunday afternoon. A positive identification is pending.

The Coast Guard and other agencies began searching Sunday for an individual who went out on a canoe in Tampa Bay.

Joshua Ford, 35, launched his canoe from Ben T Davis Beach on a 14-foot orange canoe. The Coast Guard was alerted of Ford’s disappearance after his girlfriend called saying he failed to return by sunset as planned.

The Coast Guard launched a search party from St. Petersburg using a boat and helicopter.

Ford was last scene wearing shorts and a red and blue flannel shirt.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, EC Search and Rescue and Tampa Police Marine Patrol assisted with the search.

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