Coast Guard search underway for missing kayaker in Dickinson Bayou

KTRK logo
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Coast Guard search underway for missing kayaker
The search is on for a man who went missing just north of the Texas City Dike.

SAN LEON, TX (KTRK) -- Coast Guard and Texas City fire and police departments are searching for a man north of the Texas City Dike.

Missing is 22-year-old Marlon Zepeta. Officials say he was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and Adidas pants.

At approximately 3:30pm, the crew of the tugboat Anita J contacted the Coast Guard and reported that they had been flagged down by a man on the shore near an overturned kayak.

Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders launched a Station Galveston 29-foot response boat and an Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to respond. The boat crew picked up the man who confirmed that his friend was missing after the kayak overturned. Neither of the men were wearing life jackets.

Texas EquuSearch is joining the search effort on Sunday.

If anyone knows or has seen Zepeta, or has any additional information that may assist the search effort, they're asked to contact the Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston command center at 281-464-4854 or on the radio at VHF Marine Channel 16.