Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: February 17, 2008

Contact:  Lt. j.g. Ben Sparacin
(361) 939-6227

COAST GUARD SEARCHES FOR MISSING KAYAKER 

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The Coast Guard is searching for 20 year old Stephen Stafford from Austin, Texas after he was reported missing while kayaking with a friend in Port Aransas, Texas.

The Coast Guard received the report of a missing kayaker off the North Port Aransas Jetties at 5:55 a.m. and responded with two rescue boats from Station Port Aransas along with a HH-65C rescue helicopter from Air Station Corpus Christi.

Both kayakers were not wearing a life jacket, and Texas Parks and Wildlife is assisting the Coast Guard in the search effort.

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U.S. Coast Guard - Saving lives since 1790