NEW YORK, NY — The Coast Guard recovered the body of a missing kayaker in the water near Orchard Beach Tuesday afternoon.
The kayaker, Laurence Broderick, 45 years old, of Mamaroneck, reportedly left Hempstead in his red kayak at approximately 9 p.m. Monday night en route to Mamaroneck, and was reported overdue Tuesday morning. Later that morning, his kayak was found containing his cell phone on Glen Island Beach.
At approximately 2 p.m., a rescue swimmer from a Coast Guard Station Cape Cod helicopter crew located Broderick unresponsive wearing a life jacket in the water near Orchard Beach. The swimmer transferred the body to a New Rochelle Police Marine unit.
Broderick was transferred to Westchester Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. The cause of death is unknown at this time.
The search included crews from:
- Coast Guard Station Eatons Neck 45-foot response boat
- Coast Guard Station Kings Point 29-foot response boat
- Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts, MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter
- Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey, MH-65 Dolphin helicopter
- Coast Guard Cutter Beluga, 87-foot patrol boat
- Nassau County Police Department
- New Rochelle Police Department
- Westchester Police Department
- Mamaroneck Police Department
- Rye Police Department
- Eastchester Police Department
“It is with sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Broderick that we acknowledge the unfortunate news of his loss — which occurred while he was kayaking near the Long Island Sound,” said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Zeita Merchant, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York. “The Coast Guard and area law enforcement teams searched diligently for Mr. Broderick from the moment we were informed that he was missing and, as with everyone impacted by the news, were hoping for a different outcome of today’s mission. Today’s events were truly tragic in nature, and we continue to urge all recreational craft users in the area to heed weather and condition warnings as they consider whether or not to go out on the water.”
The U.S. Coast Guard put out severe weather warnings prior to the incident.
As rough weather continues today across the Northeast, ensure that safety is your top priority. Don't get underway unless it's absolutely necessary, and take the proper precautions. Stay safe out there! @USCG @USCGNortheast #Weather #Safety #Boating #Northeast #NYC #NewEngland pic.twitter.com/mC2IlDBYdo
— USCG_Tri_State (@USCG_Tri_State) October 26, 2021
#UPDATE: 45-year-old Laurence Broderick's kayak was found containing his cell phone at Glen Island Beach, NY.
— USCG_Tri_State (@USCG_Tri_State) October 26, 2021
If you recognize this man or his life jacket/equipment, or have any info on his whereabouts, call the Coast Guard immediately.#SAR #USCG pic.twitter.com/2B14IfWPSZ
“I think I’ll paddle across Long Island Sound, at night, during a Nor’easter”
Said no one ever with a brain.
Our family thanks you, for your heartless assessment of the situation. You have no idea, what occurred …
Of course this is a tragedy, but one that with the plethora of modern technology and meteorology was completely avoidable. If he believed he was good enough to conduct a night transit in a kayak then he should have been smart enough to understand that we were going to be hammered with weather last night. This is hubris in the face of Mother Nature or King Neptune if you will. He also risked the lives of the men and women of the various agencies listed above to conduct a search and rescue in terrible weather because that is what they do. Avoidable tragedy that put others lives as risk.