A Desperate Search and 30 Hour Ordeal Has Happy Ending
By Mitch Traphagen
mitch@observernews.net
RUSKIN
Fortunately, despite a potentially grave situation, the ending turned out to be a happy one.
Kelly, 23, was dog sitting for a friend on Janie Street in Ruskin. Around 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 3, she set out with a friend’s kayak from a dock off the Little Manatee River in Ruskin.
A couple of hours later, a fast moving storm system pushed Kelly out into Tampa Bay where she capsized her 11 foot kayak and subsequently lost her paddle.
She drifted six miles out into Tampa Bay, ultimately swimming to a range marker two miles off of St. Petersburg. Kelly secured the kayak to the marker, climbed the ladder attached to the 58 foot tower and waited for help to arrive.
By Wednesday both the U.S. Coast Guard and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office were involved in a full scale search for Kelly.
HCSO deputies based on shore at the Shell Point Marina maintained hope that they weren’t searching for a body but rather a survivor.
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter searched out into the bay as
far away as the Sunshine Skyway while family members and the HCSO searched the
Little Manatee River and the nearby coastline.
Because of the prevailing currents and weather conditions, no one expected that she would drift towards St. Petersburg.
Around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, nearly 30 hours into her ordeal, a passing boater noticed Kelly waving a flotation device from the platform of the tower. The boater called the Coast Guard who used a helicopter to rescue her from the tower.
Kelly was taken to Tampa General Hospital with a severe sunburn and suffering from dehydration. She has since been released from the hospital.
"She’s doing really well now," said Kelly’s uncle John Fayer on June 9. "The sunburn is starting to ease up - she was badly blistered from the sun."
When asked if Kelly would ever again venture out aboard a kayak, Fayer responded, "Oh, yeah, definitely."
Kayaking is a popular sport in the Tampa Bay area. According to Kim Doehleman of Osprey Bay Kayaks, however, kayaking in Tampa Bay may not be recommended for beginners.
"You have to know your limitations", she said.
As Kelly can no doubt confirm, Tampa Bay, while often tranquil, is a significant body of water that can quickly become dangerous for boaters.
According to Hank Brooks of the Tampa Bay Sea Kayakers, a group of approximately 200 members, Kelly’s ordeal was discussed during a group meeting on June 9.
"Some of our members were actually caught in the same storm," said Brooks. "[But] not close to Jennifer. What they said about the storm [was]: it came up very quickly, it produced waves of five to six feet, [and] it was not a safe place for an inexperienced kayaker to be."
"Florida is one of the greatest places in the U.S. to kayak," he continued. "However, since it is the thunderstorm capital of the U.S. it can be very dangerous in open waters."
The Tampa Bay Sea Kayakers have several recommendations for new kayakers which include taking lessons, to stay within your limits while learning to kayak, going with an experienced kayaker, having an emergency plan, and taking flares and even a cell phone for emergencies.
They also recommend using a paddle leash to ensure that the paddle does not get lost.
According to Brooks, capsizing is a part of kayaking. "It is not if you will go over, it is when," he said. "Therefore you must learn how to get back in your boat by yourself."
In terms of required safety equipment, kayak operators, along with all boaters are required to have a personal flotation device. Given the nature of kayaks, most experienced kayakers recommend that they be worn at all times. Flares and other signaling devices are also recommended. Having a flare would likely have significantly shortened Kelly’s wait for rescue.
Osprey Bay Kayaks, located on the Ruskin Inlet off U.S. 41 in Ruskin offers safety equipment, classes and guided tours for those interested in learning more about the sport.
"As a kayaking community our heart goes out to Jennifer," said Brooks. "We want to promote the sport and help her kayak safely in the future while enjoying a wonderful sport."
Information about the Tampa Bay Sea Kayakers may be found at www.clubkayak.com/tbsk or by calling 727-898-2907.