Gulf of Mexico search suspended for missing kayaker

The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search Friday for a missing kayaker after canvassing nearly 3,500 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico, the Coast Guard reported in a news release issued in New Orleans.

The Coast Guard did not provide an address for the man, Eric Richards, 32, but The Associated Press reported that he is a resident of Prairieville.

Richards left for a kayak fishing trip Monday morning and was reported missing at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Coast Guard said.

After Richards did not show up at work on Tuesday, a co-worker went to the Bridgeside Boat Launch in Grand Isle and found his vehicle still at the launch, the Coast Guard said.

Two Coast Guard districts searched 3,491 square-miles of Gulf since Tuesday evening, the Coast Guard said. Lt. Matt Kor said in a statement that more than 100 offshore rigs and navigation markers were also spot-checked more than 89 hours for signs of Richards.

“After a detailed review of the case, senior Coast Guard staff suspended active search efforts,” Kor said in the statement.

The Coast Guard decides to suspend a search after an area where the missing person could be expected to be is saturated several times with a maximum number of assets, Coast Guard officials said in the news release.

The search involved two helicopters, three fixed-wing planes and four boats or ships, the Coast Guard said.