WALDPORT, Ore. — The Coast Guard suspended the search Friday night for 69-year-old Michael Carosella, the kayaker who went missing in Alsea Bay Thursday.
The suspension was announced around 9 p.m. following a 32-hour, multi-agency search of 410 square miles along the Oregon coast.
“Despite the efforts of our partner agencies from across the region, we made the very difficult decision to suspend our search,” said Capt. Michael Trimpert, commanding officer, Coast Guard Sector North Bend. “Our heartfelt prayers go out to his family and everyone involved.”
Sector North Bend watchstanders received a report shortly before noon Thursday of an unmanned kayak on the Alsea Bay beach.
Watchstanders linked the registration number on the kayak to Michael Carosella.
Carosella’s wife reported her husband left at 7 a.m. and was expected to return home at noon.
The water temperature when the search began was reportedly 48 degrees.