The kitesurfer who was reported missing on Nov. 28 after a mishap has informed the authorities he is safe, according to multiple reports.
New Jersey.com wrote in an earlier report that on Nov. 28 a kitesurfer was reported missing in Cape May County. According to the news outlet, a 911 call was made to local authorities regarding a kitesurfer who was seen drifting away in the water. The caller detailed that the surfer had fallen off his kiteboard some 500 yards from Corson Inlet, around 3:20 p.m. local time.
Following the call, authorities launched a search for the missing surfer, using helicopters and boats, but the search and rescue team had faced heavy winds during the search, according to the news outlet. In a news release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard 5th District Mid-Atlantic, the coast guard had searched over 550 square miles of the area within 16 hours.
Several teams were involved in the search for the surfer, according to the news release, of them included the Air Station Atlantic City MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew, the Station Atlantic City 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew, the Station Cape May 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew, the Ocean City Police Department, and the New Jersey State Police helicopter aircrew.
In a Facebook post regarding the wellbeing of the surfer, the Ocean City Police Department New Jersey stated that during the search, a black and white “Ocean Rodeo Cypher 10” kite had been found, but neither the board or surfer was found.
However, it turned out that the surfer was safe and had managed to call the coast guard to let them know on the morning of Nov. 29, according to New Jersey.com.
“At approximately 10 p.m. this morning, the missing kitesurfer contacted Sector Delaware Bay watchstanders to inform them that after his kite malfunctioned, he cut it free and used the board to paddle ashore and return home,” according to the news release.
The Facebook post also stated that the surfer was unaware that people had contacted authorities and they implemented a search effort to find him.
Officials did not release the name of the surfer, according to 6 ABC.
According to the news release, the U.S. Coast Guard stressed the importance of putting some form of identification on properties in order for the authorities to better find or locate someone.
“This case highlights the effectiveness of the interagency search and rescue system. 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,” said Alex Castonguay, a first-class Petty Officer and watchstander at the Sector Delaware Bay command center, according to the news release.
