Two maritime operations near Pag: Three rescued, search for Italian ends tragically

Two separate maritime operations unfolded near the Croatian island of Pag on Thursday afternoon, resulting in the rescue of three individuals and the tragic discovery of a missing Italian man's body.

The first incident involved three people on a small recreational vessel who were swept away from Pag Island towards the islet of Lukar by strong southern winds. The National Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre in Rijeka (MRCC Rijeka) received the distress call at 5:55 PM. Officers from the Zadar Port Authority immediately launched a rescue mission and located the three individuals, who were unharmed, by 6:35 PM. They were safely brought back to their starting point.

Almost simultaneously, a search was initiated for an Italian citizen who had gone missing in the Novalja area. MRCC Rijeka was alerted by the Novalja Police Station at 6:39 PM. Police officers had already begun searching the land areas around Novalja, while officials from the Karlobag Port Authority joined the sea search. The missing man was last seen heading out to sea on a rented jet ski near Caska Bay, according to acquaintances.

Tragically, the search concluded with the discovery of the man's body near the location where he was reported missing. Police informed MRCC Rijeka of the find at 7:49 PM. The search operation was then terminated, and the police are now investigating the circumstances of his death.