PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Coast Guard rescued a man from the Banana River in Cape Canaveral Saturday morning after his kayak flooded with water and he lost his paddle.
Rescued was Andrew Jackson.
Coast Guard watchstanders were notified via 911 relay that Jackson had been making supply runs in his kayak to-and-from an island he was camping at and did not return from his sixth run. Jackson’s two friends who were on the island called the Brevard County Sheriff’s Department to report Jackson overdue.
A small-boat rescue crew from Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral deployed to search for Alexander and located him at approximately 7 a.m. near the Banana River locks in a flooded kayak. Alexander had lost his paddle and was using a piece of driftwood to paddle.
Jackson was retrieved from the river and transported to shore where he was reported to be in good condition.
The Coast Guard reminds everybody who participates in water activities to file a float plan. This can be as simple as letting a friend know where you are going and what time you will be back. If you find yourself in an emergency situation, you have a better chance of being rescued if rescue crews know where to look for you.
