U.S. Coast Guard crews suspended their search Jan. 19 for an 18-year-old kayaker last seen near Honeymoon Island State Park late Jan. 18.
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers alerted the Coast Guard that two kayakers were seen in distress near the park about 6 p.m. Jan. 18, according to a Coast Guard news release.
Rescue crews learned that a group of three people were kayaking. Two of them began to drift far from shore before capsizing due to rough waves, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Dunedin Fire Rescue crews rescued one kayaker within 30 to 40 minutes, said Chief Michael Handoga.
“There was approximately three or four foot waves, and she was getting consistently battered. The water was just coming over her,” he said. “She was hypothermic and obviously exhausted.”
The sheriff’s office identified the kayaker as 19-year-old Savannah Ozer.
After taking Ozer to a waiting ambulance, crews got back in the water to search for the second kayaker, later identified as Elías Guillermo Lara Vargas.
Ozer was returning to shore when her kayak capsized, Handoga said. Vargas had tried to help her.
“Because of the conditions, even though he got off his kayak to try to go assist, he never made it to her,” the fire chief said.
Coast Guard crews searched about 290 square miles by air and sea. Rough weather brought 10- to 15-mph winds and 3- to 4-foot seas. The search for Vargas, who is still missing, was called off about 6:45 p.m. Jan. 19, according to the Coast Guard news release.
Officials said anyone with information about the whereabouts of Vargas can call the Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg command center at 866-881-1392.