Coast Guard Suspends Search for Overdue Kayaker Near Sitka - P.O.W. Report

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Coast Guard Suspends Search for Overdue Kayaker Near Sitka



SITKA, Alaska — The Coast Guard suspended the search Monday for an overdue kayaker near Sitka, Alaska.

Missing is 36-year-old Kale Pastel.

The search spanned more than 45 hours, 111 square miles, and included the following assets:


  • MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka
  • 26-foot Trailerable Aids to Navigation boat crews from Aids to Navigation Team Sitka
  • Coast Guard Cutter Bailey Barco crew
  • Sitka Mountain Rescue boat crews
  • U.S. Forest Service boat crews
  • Pastel was reported missing to Coast Guard Sector Juneau watchstanders at 10:13 a.m. Sunday, after failing to arrive from an early morning kayaking trip from Sitka to Birdsnest Bay.


At 1:15 p.m., an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Sitka spotted the kayak on Cannon Island. Earlier that morning, a good Samaritan located the kayak overturned and adrift in the Eastern Channel before towing it to Cannon Island.

"This is a tough case and hits hard to all of us here in Sitka," said Capt. Mike Frawley, commanding officer of Air Station Sitka. "We are a small, close-knit community which was evident by the out-pouring of volunteer searchers."


Original Story:



SITKA, Alaska — The Coast Guard and Sitka Mountain Rescue are searching for an overdue kayaker near Sitka, Sunday.

Missing is 36-year-old Kale Pastel.

Pastel was last seen wearing blue pants and a black hooded sweatshirt. He is described as 6 foot 4 inches, 200 lbs. with brown hair and green eyes.

Pastel was reported missing, Sunday, after failing to return from an early morning kayaking trip to Birdsnest Bay.

At 1:15 p.m., an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka spotted the kayak on Cannon Island. Earlier in the morning, a good Samaritan located the kayak overturned and adrift in Eastern Channel before towing it to Cannon Island.

Anyone with information regarding Pastel's whereabouts is asked to contact Sector Juneau at 907-463-2980



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