Body of swimmer hit by wave pulled from Cape Canaveral ocean

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Officials pulled the body of a swimmer out of the ocean in Cape Canaveral Tuesday.

Deputies said the 23-year-old Orlando man was reported missing around 10:30 a.m. by his two friends after being hit by a wave.

The two watched him disappear under the surface of the ocean, so they called 911.

Lifeguards spent the morning searching the waters, with a helicopter overhead.

Ginni Heilman was enjoying a hot day at the beach when the man's body washed up right in front of her, a couple hundred yards from where he disappeared into the water.

"Another woman, she had her kids in the water, ankle deep, we both started swimming to the Skeedoo and waving to all the police who were down a couple blocks," Heilman said.

Deputies consoled the victim's two devastated friends on the beach.

WFTV is checking conditions at the beach for rip currents and undertow.

The name of the victim was not released.

WFTV