SWAN’S ISLAND, Maine — A kayaker reported missing Tuesday evening was found early Wednesday by a good Samaritan in Mackerel Cove, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Jackson Day, 18, subsequently was escorted to shore by a Coast Guard vessel from the Southwest Harbor station, according to a statement from the Coast Guard.
Day, who was in good condition, spent the night on Round Island, about a mile west of his departure point, according to the statement. Day’s mother had reported him missing after he had failed to return home from his paddle.
Coast Guard officials searched throughout the night Tuesday using motorboats and an aircraft from Cape Cod, along with the Maine Marine Patrol, local harbormasters and good Samaritans.
Day told officials he paddled to Round Island to spend the night after winds picked up, with the intention of paddling back to Swan’s Island on Wednesday. The good Samaritan found him around 8 a.m. Wednesday.
“This is a very favorable outcome, considering all of the circumstances,” Coast Guard Sector Northern New England commander Capt. Michael Baroody said. “The low visibility, gusting winds and the lack of information on his whereabouts made this case incredibly difficult.”
Baroody added Day was found without a lifejacket.
Air temperatures dipped to 57 degrees Tuesday night with water temperatures below 60 degrees.
