Tate Ricks (pictured above), nine, was reportedly fishing with his grandma's boyfriend when their boat capsized and he was not found at shore . Authorities are searching a Florida river for a nine-year-old boy who went missing after a boat carrying him and a family friend was hit with a wake causing the boat to capsize. Putnam County Sheriff's Office said Tate Ricks immediately went under water in the St Johns River and the unidentified man with him attempted to save Ricks but could not, according to CBS. The man was able to make it to shore, deputies said. On Sunday, officials said they were using sonar and thermal imaging in the water and on the coastline in efforts to rescue the boy, Captain Joe Wells told First Coast News. Officials also said they plan to continue the air search later in the day bringing in divers. They hope to continue the search as long as conditions are safe, and stated previously the operation is for a rescue and not a recovery. Ricks, a third grade student at Kelly Smith Elementary School in Palatka, was reportedly with his grandmother's boyfriend fishing when the boating accident occurred. Their 14-foot johnboat was hit by the wake from a large boat around 5.30pm, according to News4Jax. The boy is believed to not have been wearing a life jacket, according to investigators, and the impact from the wake sent them both into the river. Crews began a rescue operation on Saturday around 6pm, and officials did confirm they discovered the capsized boat. Authorities said the search area for Ricks includes the St Johns River from US-17 to Memorial Bridge to the north, and Pico Road to the south . The Wildlife Conservation Commission is leading the investigation and the sheriff's office is leading the search, according to The Florida Times-Union. 'We are not going to send crews home tonight. They will remain on the river all night long,' Wells told News4Jax. 'We will switch to a different crew in the morning and continue right on through the weekend, into next week, whatever it takes to locate this young man and bring closure to his family.' A woman who identified herself as Ricks' grandmother said the family is working to stay positive. Suzette Guess told News4Jax: 'Everybody's just trying to hang together. Come together and do a lot of praying.' She described Ricks as a 'fun-loving kid' who liked hunting, fishing and NASCAR. 'Pray that they find him and that's he's okay. Just remember us and his mama. He's got a little sister think of her too,' she added. Wells told Times-Union that the incident is being investigated as a boating accident and that no foul play is suspected.
Tate Ricks was reportedly fishing with his grandmother's boyfriend in Florida when boat was hit by wake in St Johns River on Saturday . The unidentified man tried to rescue the boy but was unable to, police said . The man made it to shore but Ricks did not following the incident . Incident is being investigated as boating accident; no foul play suspected .