The body of Joshua Grant Hensley, 43, was found in Central Florida’s Crystal River Bay on Monday, the Miami Herald reports.
Hensley was known to friends and family as “Captain Jack,” and was often seen dressed as the eccentric fictional character made famous by Johnny Depp.
Authorities say Hensley left Hunter Springs Park on Saturday to go paddleboarding in the Crystal River. A search for Hensley was launched by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Aviation and Marine Unit around 1 a.m. on Monday, after the man was reported missing by Park Rangers around 9 p.m. Sunday. Hensley’s body was later found by members of the U.S. Coast Guard, who had deployed a helicopter to aid in the search, about a mile away from the park, in King’s Bay.
Park Rangers last saw Hensley paddling on the river in his pirate-themed paddleboard around 6 p.m. Saturday night. High winds had been reported in the area that night. It is believed he was paddling towards nearby Shell Island with the intent of watching the sunset. Rangers became concerned when they noticed his vehicle had been parked in the area overnight.
A Saturday Facebook post by Hensley’s company Big Foot Paddle Boards said “Ready to go have fun on the water!!,” accompanied by a photo of the costumed man holding his distinctive paddleboard.
On the company’s Facebook page, Big Foot Paddle Boards is described as a “canoe and kayak rental company” operating in Crystal River, Florida. In a section marked “Our Story” Hensley states, “…I worked on developing a line of custom made pirate ship boards and a few very unique rafts for local events. You may recognize me as the local Jack Sparrow from the Crystal River Pirate Festival and Raft Race.”
Paddleboarding is a sport that involves participants standing, kneeling or laying on a longboard and then propelling themselves along a body of water using their arms. The boards are often custom-made, but surfboards are also sometimes used for the sport. In the version of the sport Henley’s company appears to have focused on, stand-up paddleboarding, participants stand on the board and propel themselves using a paddle.
A statement by police reads, “The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office will continue to investigate the incident, and we will provide more information as it becomes available.”
“We offer our deepest condolences to Joshua’s family and friends in this difficult time. “Captain Jack” was a beloved figure in the community and will be missed.”
