Monday, July 30, 2018

A kayak with high-visibility colors and reflective material

Coast Guard crews were notified early Sunday morning that a 55-year-old kayaker had left from Bear Creek ramp near Hoboken and was late on his return time.

A crew from Station Hoboken and a helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City launched to help search efforts with North Carolina Wildlife, Pamlico County Sheriff’s department and Pamlico County Emergency Management personnel.

The Pamlico Emergency Management boat crew located the kayaker with his kayak partially submerged. The kayaker was found without any working means of communication, reflective vest, high-visibility colors or reflective material on kayak. The man was also suffering from cold and wet exposure.

The man was transferred to local EMS and released shortly after. 

“Wearing a safety clothing while out on the water may be the difference between life and serious injury or death in an emergency,” Cmdr. Matt said. “Kayakers should also carry a VHF-FM radio and a cell phone in a waterproof container to alert authorities quickly if assistance is needed.”