Pensacola

Update, 2:45 p.m.: Two brothers who lost their lives in the Blackwater River on Tuesday valued family, faith and fellowship above all else, friends said.

David Florian and Greg Florian, 26 and 21, drowned in fast moving currents yesterday near Deaton Bridge in Milton.

Both men were graduates of Pensacola Catholic High School and two of 10 siblings from a devout Catholic family.

"They were part of a large and loving family," Sister Kierstin Martin of Pensacola Catholic said. "It was a pleasure and a joy to have them as part of our school."

Both men pursued higher education in Mobile Ala., where they were active in their schools, communities and local churches.

Maureen Bergan, Director of Campus Ministry at David's alma mater Spring Hill College, said that at almost any time of day it was normal to find David in the school chapel praying.

"David was full of joy, kind and very faith-filled," Bergan said."He was a man for others. Selfless. He always had a smile or a hug for anyone who needed it."

Bergan said that David had a passion for science and theology, and dedicated much of his time to community service.

"It's just heartbreaking to know the world has lost such a good man," Bergan said.

Greg attended the University of South Alabama where he too was very active in the campus ministry.

His friends Keith Castelin and Claire Cawthon said that as much as his faith, Greg was known on campus for his sense of humor.

"He dressed up as Napolean Dynamite at all the sporting events," Cawthon said. "He was so spot on it was incredible. Everyone loved him. Not just when he was in character, but just for who he was."

Castelin said that Greg Florian was recently engaged and had transferred to Auburn University to pursue a communications major.

"He loved acting and making people laugh," He said. "He would always be on the big screen at football games, performing for little kids or teachers."

Martin said that the loss of the Florians saddened all who knew them.

"They were great kids who were very involved, very interested and good to everybody," Martin said.

Update, 11:10 a.m.: The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's office has released the identity of two men who drowned in the Blackwater River yesterday.

The bodies of David Florian, 26, and Greg Florian, 21, were located in the river overnight near Deaton Bridge in Milton, a Sheriff's Office incident report said.

David Florian was found approximately 9-feet underwater in debris around 11 p.m., the report said.

Greg Florian was found about 10-feet downstream roughly two hours later.

Two witnesses who were with the two men said they were swept away by currents around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday while walking in the water by a sandbar.

The current in the river was very strong and the water level was unusually high, according to the Sheriff's Office.

UPDATE, 4:50 a.m.: The bodies of two swimmers who went missing in the Blackwater River yesterday afternoon have been recovered.

According to a press release from the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office search and rescue teams located the first swimmer about 11 p.m. and the second two hours later.

Both bodies were found not far from where they were last seen, the release said.

The victims were described as white males in their 20s.

Swift currents and high water levels were made the recovery difficult and dangerous.

SRSO major crimes and crime scene, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Escambia Search and Rescue, Inc., and the fire department responded to investigate.

More information will be released as it becomes available.





Original story: Officials at this hour are searching for two swimmers who went missing in the Blackwater River today.

A press release from the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office said they - along with help from local fire departments and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission - were searching for two white males in their early 20s who were last seen at 4:30 p.m. Boats and divers have been deployed near Deaton Bridge in Blackwater River State Park.

Updates will be made as more information becomes available.