Kitesurfer found clinging to floating piece of wood in Texas gulf, rescuers say

A floating piece of wood is all that stood between a kitesurfer and the abyss, according to Texas rescuers.

The man had no life jacket and was spotted in the Gulf waters near Texas City at 12:52 p.m. on Nov. 26, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release.

Two Coast Guard boats stationed in Galveston headed to where the man was seen and found him clinging to wooden debris, the release said.

Crews pulled him and his scattered kitesurfing equipment out of the water.

Officials didn’t say how the man ended up in the water, but warned that anyone heading out into the Gulf should wear a life jacket “regardless of the activities (they) have planned,” Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeff Wideman said in a release. “Life jackets provide flotation and high visibility, making it easier for search and rescue crews to locate you in the water.”

The kitesurfer was not injured.

This story was originally published November 27, 2022 at 10:22 AM.