Missing kayaker in Chesapeake Bay

[jackdaniels]

ADVERTISE HERE

The Coast Guard is engaged in a search for a possible missing kayaker who was last seen this afternoon off the mouth of Oyster Creek near Highland Beach just south of Annapolis.

Listed The Coast Guard was contacted this afternoon by a man aboard a sailboat who came upon a man paddling his kayak. A short time later, the sailor saw the kayak drifting, without the man, who was believed to be about 30 years old. The kayak's paddle and a lifejacket were found nearby, but the man who was on it was nowhere in sight.

A Maryland State Police helicopter, four Department of Natural Resources boats and boats from Anne Arundel and Queen's Anne counties searched for the missing man but could not find him. DNR officers recovered the kayak, but were unable to determine who owns the craft from information found on the boat's hull.

As of 10:45 p.m. tonight, a Coast Guard helicopter continued to search the area of the bay south of the Bay Bridge for the missing kayaker who was wearing plaid shorts and a dark shirt.

There was a small-craft advisory on the bay that extends until 6 a.m. Wednesday. The water temperature in the bay is about 59 degrees.
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/new...ng-boater.html

[jackdaniels]

BALTIMORE - The Coast Guard suspended its search at 10:46 a.m., Wednesday, for the kayaker that reportedly went missing Tuesday afternoon approximately one mile southeast of the mouth of Oyster Creek in the Chesapeake Bay.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Baltimore’s command center received notification via cell phone at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, from Jason Miller, a good Samaritan, reporting that he had contact with the kayaker in the vicinity of Oyster Creek earlier that day.

When Miller was on the return leg of his transit, he came across the same kayak with no one aboard and noticed a life jacket and paddle floating in the water nearby.

A 25-foot Response Boat - Small crew from Coast Guard Station Annapolis, Md., arrived on scene to search for the missing kayaker at approximately 5 p.m. Additionally, Maryland Natural Resources Police, Anne Arundel Fire Rescue, Maryland State Police and a rescue helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., assisted in the search.

The rescue crews searched approximately 62 square nautical miles throughout the night and conducted a first light search Wednesday.

“The Coast Guard and partnering agencies have conducted extensive searches throughout the late night and into the morning to locate the reported missing kayaker,” said Captain Mark P. O’Malley, the commanding officer of Sector Baltimore. “The search was executed for 15 hours before the decision was made to suspend the search.”

The missing kayaker was described as a white male in his 30s wearing plaid shorts and a dark shirt. The kayak he was in is a yellow Perception Jazz model.

The search is suspended pending further developments.

Anyone with information regarding the missing kayaker are asked to contact the Coast Guard at 410-576-2525.