OCEAN CITY – The Coast Guard has closed the search for a missing kitesurfer near Ocean City after the missing individual called and reported themselves to be safe, Nov. 29.
Coast Guard Station Atlantic City watchstanders received a call from 911, notifying them of a kitesurfer reportedly wearing all black, seen drifting out to sea after falling off a kiteboard approximately 500-yards off Corson’s Inlet, at around 3:20 p.m., Nov. 28.
At approximately 10 p.m. Nov. 29, the missing kitesurfer contacted Sector Delaware Bay watchstanders to inform them that after his kite malfunctioned, he had cut it free and used the board to paddle ashore and return home.
Involved in the search were:
- Air Station Atlantic City MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew
- Station Atlantic City 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew
- Station Cape May 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew
- Ocean City Police Department members
- New Jersey State Police helicopter aircrew
Coast Guard members searched an area covering approximately 550 square miles over a period of 16 hours.
“This case highlights the effectiveness of the interagency search and rescue system,” stated Petty Officer 1st Class Alex Castonguay, a watchstander at the Sector Delaware Bay command center. “Cases like this also illustrate the importance of labeling your kayaks, canoes, kite boards and other recreational marine vehicles, so that in the event they are lost, or you are missing, we can reach out to contact you or return it.”
