SHARE

Body Of Missing Kayaker Recovered From Long Island Sound Off Stratford

STRATFORD, Conn. — The Stratford Police Department recovered the body of a missing kayaker from the waters of Long Island Sound on Monday afternoon following a daylong search, the Coast Guard said. 

The body of the missing kayaker was recovered from Long Island Sound on Monday afternoon by Stratford police.

The body of the missing kayaker was recovered from Long Island Sound on Monday afternoon by Stratford police.

Photo Credit: U.S. Coast Guard
The man's unmanned red 14-foot one-person kayak was recovered north of Stratford Shoal Middle Ground in Long Island Sound by the Coast Guard.

The man's unmanned red 14-foot one-person kayak was recovered north of Stratford Shoal Middle Ground in Long Island Sound by the Coast Guard.

Photo Credit: U.S. Coast Guard

The deceased man was identified as Gregory Blanco, 41, of Northport, N.Y., the Coast Guard said.

His unresponsive body was found at about 4 p.m. by Stratford police in the water south of Stratford.  

“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Mr. Blanco during this painful time,” said Cmdr. Kevin Reed, Deputy Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound.

The Coast Guard launched its search after receiving a call at 8:30 a.m. Monday from a good Samaritan reporting an unmanned red 14-foot one-person kayak north of Stratford Shoal Middle Ground in the Sound.

The Coast Guard launched a boatcrew from Coast Guard Station New Haven and Eatons Neck.

The boatcrews found the kayak with personal items onboard. Markings on the kayak suggested the owner had departed out of the Northport area.

Suffolk County Police Department officials located Blanco's vehicle at the Soundview Boat Ramp Marina in Northport.

The shoal is in the middle of Long Island Sound about halfway between Port Jefferson, N.Y., and Bridgeport.

to follow Daily Voice Westport and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE