Coast Guard ends search for missing kayaker south of Stratford, Conn.

News Release

June 19, 2017 U.S. Coast Guard 1st District PA Detachment New York Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment New York Office: (212) 514-4291 After Hours: (917) 703-0983

Coast Guard ends search for missing kayaker south of Stratford, Conn.

 

 

NEW YORK -- Coast Guard and partner agency crews called off the search for a missing kayaker near Stratford, Connecticut, Monday, after his body was recovered during the search. 

Deceased is Gregory Blanco, 41, from Northport, New York.

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

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.

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.  

-USCG-