Coast Guard rescues kayaker off Cape Charles, VA

Coast Guard rescues kayaker off Cape Charles, VA

PORTSMOUTH, VA — The Coast Guard rescued a man, whose inflatable kayak capsized north of Kiptopeke State Park Thursday morning.

The Accomack County Police Department contacted watchstanders at Sector Hampton Roads command center at 7:28 a.m., and notified them that a good Samaritan reported seeing what appeared to be a person in the water holding onto something.

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Station Cape Charles was diverted to assist. Once on scene, the crew safely removed the man, who was wearing a life jacket and cold-water clothing, from the water and transported him to Station Cape Charles to meet awaiting EMS.

"It's great to see people wearing their life jackets and dressing for the water temperatures," said Capt. Kevin Carroll, Sector Hampton Roads commander. "The man's life jacket and cold-water gear could have been the difference between life and death in this case. We would also like to applaud the good Samaritan whose alertness and actions brought attention to the distress and helped facilitate a successful rescue."

-USCG-