MILFORD, Conn., – The Coast Guard, along with local fire departments suspended their active search for a missing kayaker south of Charles Island near Milford, Conn., today.
Missing is 23-year-old Jett Kumweide, of Milford. He was last seen wearing a red t-shirt and jeans. He was not wearing a lifejacket.
At approximately 6:30 p.m. the Coast Guard called off the search. Coast Guard and local agencies searched for more than six hours saturating the area where Kumweide was last seen. Deteriorating weather conditions from the approaching hurricane greatly impacted the search area.
An Mh-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Mass. and a 45-foot rescue boatcrew from Coast Guard Station New Haven, along with Milford Fire and Police departments, along with Fairfield Police department searched for the missing kayaker.
Search and rescue capabilities degrade as storm conditions strengthen. This means help could be delayed. That is why boaters and beach goers should heed to weather watches, warnings and advisories and stay off the water and away from beaches.
The Coast Guard suspends a search and rescue case with extremely great care and deliberation. After a probable search area is saturated several times with a maximum number of assets, resources and crew effort, and persons in distress are still not located, a decision is made to suspend a case.
