ALLYN, Wash. – The Coast Guard called off the search for a kayaker who went missing in North Bay Tuesday.
"The Coast Guard shares sorrow with friends and family of Aldrich after conducting a very thorough search with three assets from three different units," said Cmdr. Brian Meier, search mission coordinator, Sector Puget Sound.
Andrew W. Aldrich, 31, was last seen at 11:45 p.m. in a yellow kayak, reportedly traveling about 300 yards to his car from a vessel anchored at North Bay.
North Bay is located in Case Inlet in South Puget Sound.
The Coast Guard learned of the man’s disappearance Wednesday about 1:30 a.m. Crews found a yellow kayak with a paddle in the vicinity about 9:30 a.m., although it’s not clear if it’s Aldrich's kayak. Crews search 170 miles over 12 hours looking for Aldrich.
Aldrich was wearing dark green Carhardt gear and no life jacket.
Anyone with information about the disappearance should contact the Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound Command Center at 206-217-6001.
