Body Of Missing Kayaker Found In Stratford: UPDATE

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford Police recovered the body of a missing kayaker in the water south of Stratford at about 4 p.m. on Monday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The deceased has been identified as Gregory Blanco, 41, from Northport, New York, who was reported missing on Monday.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Mr. Blanco during this painful time,” Cmdr. Kevin Reed, Deputy Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound, said in a statement.

Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound watchstanders received a call Monday at approximately 8:30 a.m., from a Good Samaritan reporting an unmanned red, 14-foot, one person kayak north of Stratford Shoal Middle Ground. (To sign up for Stratford breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

Sector Long Island Sound issued an urgent marine information broadcast on VHF-channel-16 and launched a boatcrew from Coast Guard Station New Haven and Eatons Neck.

The boatcrews arrived on scene and located the kayak with personal items onboard. Markings on the kayak and the position it was found in suggested the owner departed out of the Northport, New York area.

Suffolk County Police Department officials located Blanco's vehicle at the Soundview Boat Ramp Marina in Northport.

At approximately 4 p.m., Stratford Police Department located and recovered an unresponsive body matching the description of Blanco, in the water south of Stratford.

U.S. Coast Guard photos courtesy of Sector Long Island Sound