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Coast Guard locates body of missing kayaker

Posted at 4:45 PM, Apr 08, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-10 06:29:35-04

The body of a missing kayaker was found Sunday afternoon after a long weekend search, Florida Fish and Wildlife said.

29-year-old Justin Furman of Fort Myers, left a group of campers in a 7-foot green Kayak Friday night, around 9 p.m., to fish off Punta Rassa, the Coast Guard said. The group stated that they kept in contact with Furman for about an hour after he left.

When the group awoke on Saturday, Furman had not returned. The group said he did not have a life jacket, cell phone or emergency equipment in the kayak.

A good Samaritan located the green kayak between Sanibel Island and Bowditch Point before noon on Saturday.

Crews from the Coast Guard Cutter Tarpon, Station Fort Myers Beach, Air Station Clearwater, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Lee County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit, Cape Coral Fire Department, Estero Fire Rescue, and Iona-McGregor Fire Protection and Rescue Service District Water Ops Team went searching for the missing kayaker.

This is an ongoing investigation.