'Miracle' Everglades rescue: Kayaker found floating after going missing in late January
A Virginia man, who disappeared while on a solo kayaking trip in the Everglades National Park is in stable condition after he was rescued Monday, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.
Mark Miele, 67, of Williamsburg, Virginia, was located shortly before noon Monday. He left for his trip Jan. 22 and was due back Jan. 29.
After Miele’s bag, with his wallet and phone, washed up on the bank of the Lopez River and was found by park rangers on Sunday, deputies worked with the National Parks Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to locate the missing man.
To find Miele, Deputies downloaded data from his phone Sunday night and found his most recent coordinates logged on Jan. 31. Then the sheriff’s office aviation unit began a targeted search of the area.
A helicopter crew spotted Miele floating in the water face-up and wearing a life jacket several miles from where his belongings were found. Boats soon reached the area and took Miele to safety.
Officials didn't immediately say how or when Miele lost his kayak.
Miele’s family is grateful to have him back safe and thanked his rescuers in a statement released by the sheriff’s office on their behalf on Tuesday.
“We couldn’t have worked with a more wonderful, caring, kind, and straightforward group of people,” the family said in the statement. “It’s a miracle he’s alive and in the condition he is in. We would also like to thank the professionals at Physicians Regional Hospital (Collier Boulevard) for their competency and caring ways.”
The aviation unit located Miele and guided rescuers in the water to his location, which was a few miles from where his belongings were found.
Contributing: The Associated Press; Follow Jake Allen on Twitter: @Jake_Allen19.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Everglades rescue: Missing Virginia kayaker found in Florida
