Man dies after kayak overturns off Cape Cod

A man died Saturday evening after his kayak tipped over in Cape Cod waters, local officials said.

The 22 year-old-man was found in critical condition after his kayak flipped over in Wellfleet, fire officials said.

First responders were notified at 6:05 p.m. Saturday of a kayaker in “distress” after a blue kayak tipped over, with a man in a green life jacket floating in the currents, the Wellfleet Fire Department said in a Facebook post. 

Several emergency crews immediately began searching for the man, the fire department said. 

The Wellfleet Harbormaster sent out two boats with teams from the Wellfleet Fire Department and with harbormaster staff. The Eastham Harbormaster also dispatched a boat in search of the man, fire officials said.

The search included a United States Coast Guard helicopter and drones from the Eastham Police Department and Truro Fire Department, the fire department said. The Wellfleet Shellfish Warden and Wellfleet Police Department also assisted in the search.

Nearly two hours later, the man was located in the water by one of the Harbormaster’s boats, local officials said.

The man was found in critical condition and transported to Cape Cod Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, fire officials said.

Officials are not publicly identifying the man pending notification of his family, the department said.

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