Rescue Search Suspended For Missing Kayaker In Raritan Bay

SOUTH AMBOY, NJ — Amidst the beauty of this past weekend has come a tragedy: The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended search-and-rescue operations for a kayaker who overturned Saturday afternoon in Raritan Bay, just off South Amboy.

After a helicopter combed the waters one final time at dawn on Sunday morning, the Coast Guard suspended its search, the Coast Guard announced.

At 3:12 p.m. on Saturday, the U.S. Coast Guard at the Manhattan command center received a 911 call that three kayaks, each with one person on board, had all overturned in Raritan Bay. The kayaks overturned in the area of the bay between South Amboy and Staten Island.

A nearby Good Samaritan had picked up two of the kayakers from the water, but the third was still unaccounted for. None of the kayakers were wearing life jackets, said the Coast Guard.

Don't be fooled by the warm air temps this weekend: The water temperatures in Raritan Bay are still a frigid — and deadly — 45-55 degrees, according to the Coast Guard.

Within minutes of receiving the call, Coast Guard Station based out of Sandy Hook launched a response boat that arrived on scene and began searching for the third kayaker. NYPD Harbor Rescue, marine rescue and NYPD dive teams assisted, as well.

Shortly after, an MH-65 helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City joined the search. They were later joined by the Coast Guard Cutter Shrike, a boat, that searched through the night.

A Coast Guard MH-60 helicopter even flew down from the Cape Cod base to conduct the final first-light search Sunday morning.

The third and missing kayaker has not been found; his or her name has not been released.

“Suspending a search is never an easy decision to make,” said Capt. Jason Tama, commander of Coast Guard Sector New York. “We offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends who have been impacted by this tragic incident.”