USCG file photo
SEATTLE – Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, in Seattle, suspended its search for a possible missing kayaker at 7:45 p.m., in the vicinity of Vashon Island and Blake Island, Wash., Saturday.
Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received notification from the Washington State Ferry Tillicum at 6:50 a.m. of an orange kayak, with a lifejacket and a paddle onboard, adrift in between Vashon Island and Blake Island State Marine Park.
Coast Guard Station Seattle launched a 41-foot Utility Boat rescue crew at 7:15 a.m., and searched a 33-square-mile area for more than 11 hours.
Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, Wash., launched an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter rescue crew at 8:05 a.m., which searched a 28-square-mile area for more than 2 hours.
“If this kayak had an Operation Paddle Smart identification sticker it could have assisted in determining whether or not there was a kayaker in distress or the kayak was derelict and accidentally adrift,” said Lt. Scott Melton, senior watch officer, Sector Puget Sound.
Anyone with information on the kayak and its ownership should call Sector Puget Sound at (206) 217-6001.
For more information on Operation Paddle Smart click here
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