NH FISH & GAME: On Monday, June 24, 2013, at approximately 9:00 p.m. North Hampton Police Department received a call regarding a missing kayaker who had not returned home as expected. A police broadcast was put out for her vehicle, which was located at Chapman’s Landing boat access on Route 108 in Stratham, N.H. The vehicle was unoccupied, and the kayak was missing.
A search effort was organized by Stratham Police Department involving Newfields Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, Stratham Fire Department, Exeter Fire Department, Newfields Fire Department and Newmarket Fire Department. Five boats were utilized in the initial search effort.
At approximately 11:15 p.m., Conservation Officers from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and N.H. Marine Patrol officers were asked to join the search effort.
At 11:32 p.m., Newfields Fire Department personnel located the capsized kayak in the Squamscott River, about 0.2 mile from the boat ramp. At 1:30 a.m. on June 25, a N.H. State Police helicopter searched the area utilizing FLIR (forward looking infra red) and night vision equipment. The search effort continued throughout the night and will continue today.
No further information is available at this time. The woman’s name is not being released pending notification of family members.