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Update: Coast Guard suspends search for missing kayaker

This kayak was found overturned and floating near Plum Island. (Credit: U.S. Coast Guard, courtesy)

The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search Wednesday at around 5:30 p.m. for a possible missing kayaker off the coast of Plum Island.

The Coast Guard and local agencies had searched continuously for 26 hours covering more than 890 square miles, according to a press release issued at 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

Below is our original story:

The U.S. Coast Guard continued its search for a possible missing kayaker off the coast of Plum Island on Wednesday.

A good Samaritan noticed an overturned kayak off East Point and notified the Coast Guard about 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday. A small boat from the Montauk Coast Guard station and a helicopter were dispatched to locate a possible person in the water.

It’s unclear if someone is in distress, though there were signs that someone was aboard the craft. Fishing poles and food were found onboard the kayak, a red, 12-foot Pelican.

“We treat every case of an adrift vessel as a search and rescue case until we can confirm otherwise,” Commander Andrew Ely, chief of response for Sector Long Island Sound, said in a press release. “In this particular case, there are signs which point to the vessel being operated and not just washing off with the tide, which is a matter for concern. If we can identify any characteristics about the user or fill in any timeline details, it can greatly assist us in narrowing our search to the most likely areas.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sector Long Island Sound Command Center at (203) 887-4333.

Top photo: This kayak was found overturned and floating near Plum Island. (Credit: U.S. Coast Guard, courtesy)