The body of a Morganville man reported missing by his family, was retrieved off Keyport Sunday afternoon after being discovered by a jet skier, according to Keyport Police Chief George Casaletto said.
The discovery ended an extensive search for the man, Savino Mazzilli, 57, of Ironwood Lane in Morganville. More than 150 volunteers and marine rescue units from several Bayshore towns had joined in the effort as relatives and friends of Mazzilli maintained a vigil at dockside in Keyport. He had been reported missing by his wife, shortly after 10 pm, Saturday, Casaletto said.
Once word arrived of the jet skier's discovery, a detail composed of park rangers from Sandy Hook and members of the Keyport First Aid squad was dispatched to make the recovery. As the First Aid squad boat headed out to the location, emergency personnel began clearing the immediate area of people who had been observing the police activity as well as those simply out for an afternoon of fishing strolling or bicycling at Keyport's recently renovated marine park.
Fire department personnel arrived with a large blue tarp, which was passed down to emergency personnel at the dock, where it was raised to provide privacy during the transfer of the body from the First Aid boat to a waiting Keyport ambulance.
Casaletto said volunteer crews searching for Mazzilli were called back in at 2:30 p.m. after the body was recovered. The search for Mazzilli involved emergency departments from throughout the Bayshore, including crews from Aberdeen, Atlantic Highlands, Fair Haven, Highlands, Middletown, Union Beach and Sandy Hook National Park Service, Casaletto said.
Mazzilli was last seen at 11:30 p.m. on Friday when he took a small dingy out to his 33-foot Sea Ray moored at the Keyport Yacht Club, according to Casaletto. He had told his wife, Doreen, he would spend the night on the boat. She reported him missing after attempting to reach him on his cellphone during the Keyport Yacht Club's annual regatta on Saturday night and receiving no answer.
Christina Johnson and Chelsea Naso contributed to this report.
