EDGARTOWN, Mass. — One man is dead and his brother remains missing after jumping from the bridge made popular by the 1975 film “Jaws” in Martha’s Vineyard, authorities said.
Rescuers suspended the water search Tuesday afternoon for a 21-year-old man who never resurfaced after he, his 26-year-old brother and two others jumped from the American Legion Memorial Bridge late Sunday night, according to authorities.
The body of the 26-year-old was recovered early Monday. The other two people were rescued, said Adam Sansoucie, spokesperson for U.S. Coast Guard Station Woods Hole.
The brothers were identified by a family spokesperson to the Boston Globe as Tavaughn Bulgin, 21, and Tavaris Bulgin, 26. Massachusetts State Police confirmed their identities to USA TODAY and said the brothers were from Jamaica and worked as seasonal restaurant workers in Martha’s Vineyard.
Jumping from the bridge between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, is a popular pastime for youth and people visiting the Vineyard, state police spokesman David Procopio said in a statement. Authorities say it is illegal to jump from it.
A 911 caller expressed concern Sunday about the four swimmers, Sansoucie said.
“One was seen about 200 feet offshore going under the water and not resurfacing,” Sansoucie said. Rescuers searching overnight found the 26-year-old’s body shortly before 7 a.m. Monday.
Edgartown Police requested the state police’s help locating the two brothers, according to Massachusetts State Police. The state police’s divers, marine unit and the Massachusetts Environmental Police returned to the Edgartown coast Tuesday morning after pausing the search Monday evening.
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The search was suspended Tuesday afternoon due to hazardous conditions for divers, state police said.
“We will assess weather conditions on a day-by-day basis to determine when conditions are safe for divers to resume,” state police said.
The teams used side scan sonar, which detects objects or anomalies on the ocean floor through sensors that send and receive pulses to map the sea floor, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Contributing: The Associated Press