Coast Guard, partners search for missing man in Sitka, Alaska

JUNEAU, Alaska - Crewmembers aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Liberty, homeported in Auke Bay, navigate through Southeast Alaska waters Monday, May 31, 2011. The Liberty is the 34th of the Coast Guard's 49 110-foot patrol boats and is named after Liberty Island in New York Harbor. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jeremy Wright.JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard, Sitka Police Department and Sitka Fire Department are searching for a 40-year-old man reported missing in Sitka Thursday.

The man’s wife first reported him missing to the Coast Guard 17th District command center after he left home Wednesday night and did not return.  The man’s kayak is also missing, prompting the wife to believe he may have gone kayaking.

Coast Guard Sector Juneau assumed control of the case and requested the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Liberty and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka to begin a search for the man.  A Sitka Fire Department boat, Sitka Police and good Samaritans are also involved in the search.

“The Coast Guard and Sitka Police and Fire personnel are working diligently to find this man,” said Lt. Jennifer Ferreira, a Sector Juneau command duty officer. “We appreciate the assistance of the good Samaritans in our search efforts, and anyone with information that may assist with the search is encouraged to call the Sector Juneau command center at 907-463-2980.”

The man was described as wearing a black sweatshirt and black Carharts.  His kayak was described as a green and white, single-person kayak.


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