[C]OLCHESTER – Two kayakers are dead after their boats flipped on Lake Champlain during a violent storm on Tuesday.
Police say Celine Teeson, of Colchester and John Duncan, of Huntington, both 73, were kayaking near the shore of Malletts Bay when the storm brought high winds and waves, flipping both boats.
“We were in the middle of a severe thunderstorm. There were high winds, over 60 miles an hour, and strong downpour rain,” Colchester Police Chief Doug Allen said.
Allen said police received multiple calls about two unrelated incidents involving kayaks overturning at about 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday. Boaters in the first group were able to exit the lake without assistance.
“This was a very violent storm that hit us very suddenly,” Allen said. “Not only were we dealing with these things on the water, but we had downed trees and were getting alarms about downed power lines.”
The two victims were paddling near the shore when multiple witnesses from different spots saw their kayaks overturn and called 911. They had gone to a point across Malletts Bay and were returning to their residence when the storm hit, according to police.
The two kayakers are believed to have left the point at around 3:30 p.m.
“One of the people that had called 911 went out on a jetski and tried to find the person he had seen flailing out on the water. He went out in the storm,” Allen said.
Malletts Bay Fire Department was the first emergency service on the scene and pulled Teeson out of the water at 4:15 p.m. After efforts to resuscitate her using CPR were unsuccessful, she was transported to the UVM Medical Center in Burlington where she was pronounced dead.
Duncan remained missing until 9:36 a.m. on Wednesday. Search crews suspended efforts at 10 p.m. due to nightfall on Tuesday and resumed at 6:30 a.m. the following morning.
U.S. Border Patrol came to the scene from Plattsburgh, New York, to assist by conducting an aerial search using a helicopter, and located Duncan’s body about a quarter-mile offshore after approximately 15 minutes. The body was recovered in approximately 8 feet of water by Colchester Technical Rescue.
In additional to Colchester Police, Vermont State Police, the Malletts Bay Fire Department, Colchester Technical Rescue, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Border Patrol were involved in the search and rescue operations.
The cause of death is undetermined for both victims, as police as waiting for autopsy results. Foul play is not suspected in either death.
Allen said rescuers found personal floatation devices at both kayaks, but they were not being worn by the victims. He advises boaters to let people know where and when they’re going out, which the victims did, check weather reports and always wear a life jacket.
“Something of this nature where we tragically lose two lives is fortunately very rare,” Allen said.
