Fifth District
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: July 7, 2008
Contact: (757) 434-7705
(757) 434-7712

Coast Guard searches for missing kayaker

PORTSMOUTH, Va. -  Coast Guard rescue crews from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C.,  and Station Elizabeth City search for an overdue kayaker in the vicinity of Albemarle Sound, N.C., near Leonard Point today.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Carolina received notification at 3:58 p.m. from North Carolina Wildlife, that Curtis Cooper, a 19-year-old Richmond, Va., resident, was overdue since 11:30 a.m. North Carolina Wildlife was notified by Deborah Hedley, Cooper's girlfriend.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew from the air station located an overturned yellow kayak, the same color as Cooper's, at 5:33 p.m. approximately six miles from the last known position. The crew will continue search efforts from the air.