Kure Beach Police release identity of missing swimmer, Coast Guard suspends search

KURE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — The Kure Beach Police Department has identified the swimmer missing since yesterday afternoon.

Police say Maynor Francisco Cruz Bardalez, 25, was last seen in the water near the Kure Beach Pier.

Kure Beach Police say the U.S. Coast Guard and Kure Beach Police Department have conducted an extensive search for Bardalez.

Bardalez is from Wilmington. Police say they have notified his family.

The Kure Beach Fire Department started searching around 2:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon, after they received word swimmers were in distress near the Kure Beach pier.

Witnesses saw two men in the water and called 911.

“We at Kure Beach, we need a water rescue at the pier, Kure Beach fishing pier. Somebodies drowning, they are drowning,” one woman tells the 911 dispatcher.

Another caller provides more information.

“We’ve got two people in the water at Kure Beach and if they don’t get here pretty **** quick they’re gonna drown.”

The 911 dispatch operator asks where at Kure Beach.

The male caller then tells 911 they are right beside the pier. “They’ve gotta hurry now. They’ve been in there a while. They’re wore out. They’re not gonna make it.”

After being on the phone for nearly a minute, the caller then tells the 911 operator one of the men has disappeared.

“There’s one down. He’s under the water. … Oh God. Oh God. One of them’s gone. He’s down… I can’t believe I’m seeing this.”

The caller tells 911 one of the men dove in to help the other and now he’s stuck out there.

“There’s a lifeguard or someone almost there. He’s hanging in there. I think he’s going to get him … The boy is almost to him. He’s within 6-8 feet of him. I think he’s got him. He’s got him, he’s got him. There’s one good and the other one is still down. I don’t know where he’s at.”

A rescue swimmer with the Kure Beach Fire Department saved one of the men. They provided first aid and kept him warm until EMS arrived and took him to New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

The U.S. Coast Guard brought in their boat and helicopter to help search for the missing swimmer. Carolina Beach Police also brought in a drone to help in the search.

The Coast Guard has called of their search at this time.

Kure Beach Police say their department is still searching the beach strand.