A kayaker on Cape Cod died Saturday evening after his kayak flipped over off the coast of Wellfleet, Massachusetts.
According to officials with the Wellfleet Fire Department, emergency crews were notified of a kayaker in distress after a blue kayak overturned at 6:05 p.m. on Saturday, March 14. The individual was reported to be wearing a green life jacket and drifting in the current.
A coordinated search effort was immediately launched involving multiple agencies. The Wellfleet Harbormaster deployed two boats staffed with harbormaster and Wellfleet Fire Department personnel, and the Eastham harbormaster also responded with a boat to assist with the search on the water. Wellfleet police officers conducted shoreline searches, assisted by the Wellfleet shellfish warden.
Additional aerial search resources were provided by Eastham police and the Truro Fire Department using drones. The Coast Guard also responded and deployed a helicopter to assist in searching the surrounding waters.
A crew in one of the harbormaster’s boats located the kayaker in the water at 8:02 p.m. and brought him to shore. The 22-year-old male was reportedly in critical condition and was taken by ambulance to Cape Cod hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Officials did not release the kayaker’s identity pending notification of family members.
