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Rescue reservists join search for missing kayaker

  • Published
  • By Capt. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Rescue reservists from the Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing here joined the search for a missing ocean kayaker Oct. 14 off the coast of Patrick Air Force Base.

Missing is Mr. Michael Alexander, 49, from Port Canaveral, who left to go fishing Wednesday morning and never returned home, according to the Coast Guard.

Rescue Wing Airmen launched an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter at approximately noon to join the ongoing search by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Two hours into the search, a boater reported finding an empty kayak, which reduced the search area, according to the Coast Guard.

The Air Force Reserve Pave Hawk crew joined a Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk crew and a 25-foot small boat crew already on the scene, in addition to other Brevard County assets.

Two pararescuemen are also part of the Air Force Reserve crew aboard the helicopter who are skilled rescue specialist trained in water, mountain, desert and combat rescue.

"At approx 10:30 a.m. we received a call from Coast Guard Station Sector Jacksonville requesting assistance to search for a missing kayaker just east of Patrick," said Col. Chris Hannon, 920th Operations Group Commander.

According to the Coast Guard, Mr. Alexander's girlfriend contacted Coast Guard watchstanders Thursday and reported that she found a note Wednesday morning written by Mr. Alexander stating that he was going fishing. He never returned home. He was reported to own an orange, single person kayak.

The Pave Hawk is a highly modified version of the Army Black Hawk helicopter which features an upgraded communications and navigation suite and has the ability to refuel while in flight to increase the range of ongoing search and rescues.

Stay up to date with the 920th Resue Wing at http://www.920rqw.afrc.af.mil. Follow the 920th on Facebook and Twitter.