Texas kayaker found dead after going missing off coast, officials say
Barry Baham, 49, was expected to return from a kayaking trip on Friday.
Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard
The search for the missing Texas kayaker ended after officials found a body matching the man’s description on Sunday, January 22, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Barry Baham, 49, was last seen on Friday, January 20 near Jamaica Beach, a city near Galveston.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, Baham was supposed to return from his kayaking trip at 4 p.m. but never did. He was last seen paddling a white kayak north of Jamaica Beach. Officials shared a photo of his kayak on the U.S. Coast Guard’s social media pages. A body matching his description was later found at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday near West Bay.
Officials have not positively identified the kayaker as Baham, but the Coast Guard said it has ended its search for him.
“We are grateful for the support provided by the other first responders, volunteers, and community members that came to aid in search efforts,” said Coast Guard Cmdr. Michael P. Cortese, search and rescue mission coordinator, Sector Houston-Galveston. “Our prayers are with the loved ones as they go through this challenging time.”
Multiple agencies, including Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office, Galveston Police, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department assisted in the search.
