Kayaker Rescued in Sandy Hook Bay Sunday

MIDDLETOWN, NJ - Spring's first day of beautiful weather Sunday brought with it a Raritan Bay water rescue: A kayaker had to be rescued from the frigid waters of Sandy Hook Bay Sunday afternoon after his kayak flipped over near Naval Weapons Station Earle. The man was in the 50-degree ocean water.

The accident happened around 3 p.m. Sunday, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman told Patch. A lone individual was in their kayak near the U.S. Navy base when the kayak flipped. He was not in the restricted zone. The man was in the water, next to the kayak, and flagged down a passing motor boat, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier. The U.S. Coast Guard responded, as did Middletown volunteer fire department and the FDNY marine unit, but the kayaker was already safely aboard the private boat.

"He could have rolled himself over or waves hit him, but either way, his kayak was filling with water," said
Strohmaier. "Earle is far enough out that if it's cold enough and you have to swim back, it can be daunting."

The current water temperature of Sandy Hook Bay is 50 degrees.

The kayaker was taken to Belford marina, where he was evaluated by EMS crews but refused medical attention. Strohmaier said he did not know if he was wearing a life jacket.

Wikimedia Commons image