Police: Man who jumped off pier found dead

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

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Rescue crews found the body of Alexander Pickett shortly after midnight on Wednesday.

PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- A man missing in Gulfport after jumping into the water off of a pier has been found dead.

According to Gulfport police, around 7 p.m. several young adults were playing on Williams Pier when 27-year-old Alexander Pickett suddenly jumped into the water.

Police say one of his friends jumped in after him but quickly became tired and had to give up his search.

Several employees from nearby O'Maddy's restaurant also jumped in to try to rescue Pickett.

"We knew we had to help, so we went in," said O'Maddy's employee Brent Miller. "By the time I got out of the water, I knew what happened to this man. He was so fatigued he couldn't keep his head up out of the water anymore, with the current. I just wish I could've helped. It's terrible."

Pickett's body was found shortly after midnight on Wednesday. Several local agencies, including the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue and the U.S. Coast Guard, helped in the search.

Family members told police that Pickett recently moved to the area from Michigan and was unfamiliar with the Florida waters.

According to police, there is a statute prohibiting anyone from jumping off the pier.

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