The search for a missing kayaker who capsized on Tuesday near the Dumbarton Bridge has been temporarily called off because of low tide, according to officials.
A U.S. Coast Guard cutter ship and various small boats from local fire departments on Wednesday afternoon were pulled from the water. No trace of Kenneth Maldanado, a 30-something from San Jose who fell into the water without wearing a life jacket, has been found.
"Completely due to the favorable conditions and with no wind, high tide, we were able to cover a grid as best we could of the entire South Bay," said Richard Dickinson, marshland incident commander.
Maldanado was kayaking off the coast of Fremont just south of the Dumbarton railroad trestle when his boat capsized. Maldonado's friend, who was also enjoying an afternoon on the water in his raft, used a cellphone to call for help at 4:38 p.m., telling dispatchers that his buddy had fallen off his kayak into the water.
NEW Update @nbcbayarea on search for missing kayaker in the Bay. Our talk with Fremont Fire Dept just seconds ago. pic.twitter.com/Deiomnkn2f
— Rick Boone (@RickBooneNews) January 25, 2017
Officials on Wednesday sectioned off a grid around the southern portion of the bay to help centralize search efforts, but Fremont Fire Department Chief Diane Hendry said scouring the water was no easy task.
"Some of the challenges with the southern part of the bay is the tide," she said. "Being able to launch boats and work the southern part of the bay depends on high tide, low tide."
Local
A coordinated effort by local authorities was implemented on Tuesday during the initial search effort, but Maldanado was still unaccounted for when the search was called off at 10 p.m., according to officials.
Aircraft were deployed by the U.S. Coast Guard and the California Highway Patrol. Menlo Park firefighters and the Fremont Fire Department both used drones to search the shoreline.
Firefighters from Redwood City, San Jose, Santa Clara, Fremont and Alameda County all sent water rescue assets - and as many as 13 boats were engaged in the search late Tuesday night, Menlo Park Fire District Chief Harold Schapelhouman said.
Rescuers were using FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) technology, which can pick up a heat signature, but the victim has been in the water for hours and may have gotten cold.
