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| Photo: U.S. Coast Guard District 17 |
A 13-year-old girl and her aunt and uncle are taken back to a cabin on Kruzof Island, Alaska, July 3, 2018, in an Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter. The girl was reported missing in a kayak in Shelikof Bay, last seen wearing a purple, blue and black life jacket, and was later found by the Jayhawk crew in good condition U.S. Coast Guard photo.
KODIAK, Alaska - A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka Jayhawk helicopter crew located a missing girl on Kruzof Island in the Shelikof Bay Tuesday.
Coast Guard Sector Juneau watchstanders received notification from the Sitka Police Department that a 13-year-old girl was kayaking in Shelikof Bay and her aunt and uncle did not see her after an hour had passed. She was last seen in an orange kayak wearing a purple, blue and black life jacket.
As her family searched the southern portion of the bay's shoreline, Sector Juneau watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and diverted a Jayhawk helicopter crew to the area.
At 2:16 p.m., the girl's kayak was located on the shore and her aunt believed she may have gone into the woods to head back to the family's cabin.
The Jayhawk crew embarked the girl's aunt to aid in the search. At 3:08 p.m., the girl was located on some rocks by the helicopter crew. She was hoisted and safely taken in good condition to her family at North Beach on Kruzof Island.
"Even on a beautiful day the water temperature can be life threatening. Thankfully this young lady was wearing a life jacket, which may have made the difference in the outcome," said Lt. Mick Klakring, one of the Jayhawk pilots on the case. "We are very happy we could find her and relocate her with family staying at Shelikof Bay to enjoy the Fourth of July."
The Coast Guard reminds those who use paddle crafts to wear a life jacket at all times, dress for the water temperature, take a personal locator beacon, a satellite phone or cell phone with good cell reception and to file a float plan to let others know your plans in case of an emergency.
Weather at the time of the incident was 2-foot seas, 6 mph winds and a water temperature of 54 degrees.
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