Vermont

Vermont Police Search for Missing Kayaker

Vermont State Police continued their search for a kayaker who was last seen holding onto his overturned yellow kayak on Lake Champlain, while the Coast Guard suspended their search, authorities announced Wednesday.

Police say 41-year-old Eric Plett, of Weehawken, New Jersey, was last seen near Shelburne Point on Monday night. Rescuers were dispatched at about 7:10 p.m. and conducted a search, but were unable to find him.

The search was resumed Tuesday morning, but the Coast Guard announced Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m. that they were suspending the search.

During the 29-hour search, authorities covered 807 square miles, the Coast Guard said. The effort involved personnel from a wide range of agencies, including Customs and Border Protection, the Vermont State Police, a boat crew from the Burlington Coast Guard station, crews from the Cape Cod Coast Guard air station, and fire rescue crews from the towns of Charlotte and Shelburne.

“After an extensive search alongside our partners we made the difficult decision to suspend our search,” said Lt. Cmdr. Martin Bryant of Coast Guard Sector Northern New England.

The search is suspended pending any further developments. Last year there were 54 recreational boating deaths in the Northeast, 41 of which were the result of people falling overboard or capsizing, and 39 of which were not wearing a life jacket.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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