Woman drowns on Longboat Key

A woman drowned late Wednesday afternoon on the beach in the 4300 block of Longboat Key, near Pelican Harbour condominium.

Police identified the victim as Jacqueline Landaverde, 36, of Snellville, Ga. She was staying on the Key at Turtle Crawl Inn.

A witness told police that he was fishing in an inflatable watercraft and heard calls for help coming from the sandbar area. The witness said that he saw a man “frantically waving and calling out” and the victim being tumbled by waves.

The witness estimated that Landaverde was under water for three to five minutes.

The witness helped to pull her to shore and assisted in attempts to revive her.

According to Longboat Key Fire Rescue Deputy Chief David Kyle, Landaverde was likely caught in a rip current.

Firefighter paramedics transported Landaverde to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 5:04 p.m.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].