Missing Kayaker's Body Recovered in West Bay

Texas Game Wardens and partner agencies recovered the body of a missing kayaker in West Bay near Galveston on Monday, May 18, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. The search began after two adult brothers launched kayaks in West Bay on Sunday evening, May 17, and one of the kayaks capsized, the agency said. Neither brother was wearing a life jacket, Texas Parks and Wildlife said. One brother made it back to shore, but the other did not resurface and was later found dead. ### How did the search begin? Sunday evening, May 17, is when the two adult brothers launched their kayaks in West Bay, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. The agency said one kayak capsized during the outing, and the missing man disappeared underwater. One brother returned to shore, but the other did not resurface, Texas Parks and Wildlife said in its statement issued May 19. The agency did not identify the man in the release. ### Who found the kayaker’s body? Texas Game Wardens said they and other local, state and federal agencies searched for the missing man on Monday, May 18. The body was eventually located and recovered in West Bay, ending the multi-agency search, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. Click2Houston and other local outlets reported the search involved Coast Guard crews alongside Texas authorities, citing Coast Guard statements and local officials. Texas Parks and Wildlife’s own statement said the recovery was carried out by wardens and partner agencies. ### What happened after the recovery? The Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office received the man’s body after the recovery, Texas Parks and Wildlife said. The agency said the case was turned over for investigation. Texas Parks and Wildlife did not provide additional details in its release about the medical examiner’s expected timeline or any formal identification. ### What have officials said about life jackets? (tpwd.texas.gov) Texas Parks and Wildlife said neither of the two brothers was wearing a life jacket when the kayak capsized. In its statement, the agency called the death a reminder to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while boating or paddling. The agency said most boating fatalities in Texas involve people who were not wearing life jackets. That warning was included in the state’s account of the West Bay recovery. ### Where in Galveston Bay did this happen? West Bay, near Galveston, is where Texas Parks and Wildlife said the brothers launched and where the search was centered. Local television reports said the missing kayak had been found near Alligator Point before the body was recovered. (tpwd.texas.gov) Houston-area outlets reported the missing man was 37 years old, citing Coast Guard information. Texas Parks and Wildlife’s statement did not include his age, and Reuters could not independently confirm that detail from the state release alone. ### What comes next in the case? (click2houston.com) The Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office is the next named agency in the case after the recovery in West Bay on May 18. Texas Parks and Wildlife has already issued its public account of the search and recovery, and any further official identification or cause-and-manner findings would be expected to come through the medical examiner or investigating authorities. (click2houston.com)