A search and rescue mission was launched on February 11, 2023 after a kayaker went missing in the Destin Harbor. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office sent out an Aqua Alert after a green kayak was overturned by the wake from a large boat in the harbor around 6:15 pm on Saturday night. 

• The current was moving east, and two people were on the kayak when it overturned, according to the OCSO.

One person was recovered at around 9 pm, holding onto a pylon behind Harbor Docks, but the other person, a female approximately 30-years-old, was still missing. The OCSO described the missing kayaker as 5’6″ tall, 100 pounds with long brown dreadlocks and blonde highlights and tattoos. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, Timberland boots, an unknown shirt, and an orange life vest.

Despite the search efforts on Saturday night and into Sunday morning, the OCSO shared in a press release that the missing kayaker was tragically located deceased on Sunday evening. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is handling the investigation and any additional information will be released by them.

“Please join us in sending our sincere sympathies and prayers to her family and friends,” wrote the OCSO on Facebook.