Date: Aug. 8, 2008

Contact: Petty Officer Bill Colclough
(216) 902-6020 office
(216) 310-2608 cell

 AGENCY ASSIST LOCATES OVERDUE KAYAKER

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City assisted the Kalkaska County Sheriff's Dept. with the location of a 31-year-old male kayaker found safe on the Rapid River Friday at 4:15 p.m.

An HH-65C rescue helicopter crew vectored the location of William Chopp, who was overdue for more than four hours in a red kayak and wearing a blue shirt, to a Kalkaska County marine unit.

"He was fine; apparently, he just misjudged how long it would take to get to his destination," said Lt. Winward Griffin, Ninth District Command Center.

Chopp's wife reported him missing after he did not return home after 10 a.m. Friday.

He launched his kayak at approximately 8:30 a.m. from Rug Pond to go to Torch Lake.

He had no medical concerns.

The Coast Guard worked closely with the Kalkaska and Antrim County Sheriff's Departments to locate the kayaker safely.

For further inquiries, contact the Ninth District Public Affairs Office at 216-902-6020.

For official Coast Guard video b-roll of the HH-65C rescue helicopter, click on the following link:

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=305823