Kayaker dies in St. Johns County

Kayaker dies in St. Johns County

POSTED 09/26/2008 - A 59-year-old Gainesville man died while kayaking on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) in St. Johns County sometime Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is investigating the accident.

Francis A. Stephenson (DOB 4/11/49), of 8401 NW 13th St., left the canal behind his brother’s house just north of the State Road 206 bridge in St. Augustine about 6 p.m., Wednesday, in his kayak. According to his brother, Brian Stephenson, his intent was to go to the mouth of the canal and fish along the ICW.

When Stephenson didn’t return by 6 a.m., his brother began searching for him in the ICW. By around 11:30 a.m., when he still hadn’t found his brother, Brian Stephenson’s wife called the U.S. Coast Guard and reported him missing.

The Coast Guard notified the FWC around 1:40 p.m., Thursday, of the situation, and several agencies began an all-out search for Stephenson. Helicopters from the FWC and Coast Guard took to the air, while FWC and St. Augustine Police Department boats took to the water.

At around 2:30 p.m., spotters in the Coast Guard helicopter found the kayak capsized on the oyster flats at the entrance to Moses Creek, just north of the SR 206 bridge. Stephenson’s body was found sitting in the seat of the kayak with the skirt still attached to the seating compartment. He was wearing his life jacket and had all required safety equipment on board.

"Mr. Stephenson appeared to be extremely safety-conscious and an experienced kayaker who had more than the required safety equipment on board," said Lt. Steve Zukowsky, FWC law enforcement lieutenant for coastal St. Johns County. "However, there were strong winds, a flood tide and the water was very rough and choppy when he reportedly went kayaking last night."

The medical examiner will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death.