#Middlebury #Kayaker
Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department Chief Brett Kales said his department responded to a call that came in about 2:45 p.m. Saturday, April 10, reporting an overturned kayaker in Long Meadow Pond in Middlebury. Kales said a resident who heard the call ran to the area and could hear the kayaker calling for help. Unfortunately, the kayaker could not be located by first responders.
The kayak and a vehicle believed to be owned by the kayaker were located, but the kayaker was not. Dive teams including the Region 5 Dive Team and the Oxford Dive Team started searching for the kayaker but had not located anyone by the time dark fell, temporarily stopping the search. Kales said the search will resume Sunday morning, and the Connecticut State Police Dive Team will join the search. DEEP personnel also have responded.
Kales said Long Meadow Pond is about 12 feet deep, making it much shallower than Lake Quassapaug, but he said the bottom is muck rather than sand, and that presents challenges for the divers. He said the water temperature is probably around 50 degrees.
At that temperature, hypothermia becomes a danger for anyone who falls in the water. The Westpac Marine Services website says 50 degree water equals 15 minutes before incapacity and/or unconsciousness with a life jacket on and 50 degree water equals 9 minutes before incapacity and/or unconsciousness without a life jacket.
