Kemah Boardwalk employee missing after jumping in to help kayaker in distress
KEMAH,Texas (KTRK) -- The search continues for a good Samaritan who jumped off the Kemah Boardwalk to help a kayaker in distress.
Todd Riddle, 56, of Deer Park, has not been seen since 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
According to Kemah police, Riddle, who is a maintenance worker at the Kemah Boardwalk, tried to assist a kayaker in trouble. The kayaker got to safety, but Riddle did not.
He swam about 100 yards out and, on his way back, disappeared, Coast Guard Lt. Commander Caren Damon said in an afternoon news conference.
Riddle's family describes him as a strong swimmer and "exactly the kind of man who would risk his life to save another, without hesitation."
Even after dark, the search continued in Galveston Bay. Efforts included helicopters, boats and drones from about a dozen agencies, including the Coast Guard, Kemah Police and Fire Departments, Seabrook Fire Department and Harris and Chambers County Sheriff's Offices.
There were also a few civilians mixed in like John Stamper, binoculars in hand.
"There aren't always enough eyes out looking," Stamper told ABC13. "One more eye can see something nobody else did."
The Coast Guard was still classifying the effort as a search and rescue that will continue until as long as Riddle "remains viable on the surface," Damon said.
Riddle is a father. Longtime friend Shane Kohutek was thinking of his children as the search dragged on.
"The best of luck for their father. He's everything to them and they're everything to him," Kohutek said. "Very good person."
SEE ALSO: Kemah Police Chief Chris Reed honored after boating accident that claimed his life
