Search and rescue efforts to locate a missing Starkville man were called off Tuesday after crews located a small kayak floating about three miles off-shore in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Gulf Shores, Alabama, Police Department first announced the search for 24-year-old John Switzer after he was last heard from Saturday.
Air, land and sea efforts led officials to discover a kayak, believed to have been used by Switzer, partially submerged between Dauphin Island and Petit Bois Island, a GSPD release states.
U.S. Coast Guard crews and assets from Cutter Cobia, Station Dauphin Island, Air Station New Orleans, Aviation Training Center Mobile and Sector Mobile, along with several Alabama police and fire departments, covered more than 2,115 square miles during the search, a USCG release states.
Switzer was on vacation in the area, the GSPD release states, and was on his kayak fishing the last time he communicated with family members.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Mr. Switzer,” said Commander Chris Cederholm, of Coast Guard Sector Mobile, in a release. “The men and women of the Coast Guard are deeply committed to the preservation of life at sea. It is always a bitter disappointment to us when we cannot bring someone home safely. Their loss is our loss.”
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
