Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Missing Kayaker Finds His Way Home

Police say he put himself and emergency responders at risk.

Westport police and fire marine units assisted the Norwalk Police Department in a search for a missing kayaker early Thursday morning.

Lieutenant Paul Resnick of the Norwalk Police Department said police received a call at 9:41 p.m. Thursday from a friend of Daniel Celan, the 47-year-old kayaker of Norwalk. The friend reported Celan was "in trouble and and being blown by the wind." 

Celan began his kayak trip at the small boat launch ramp at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk and had called his shore-based friend from his cell phone when he was having trouble in the poor weather conditions.

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Resnick said Celan was using an inflatable kayak, green and gray in color.

After his first distress call, Resnick said neither police nor the friend were able to make contact with Celan.

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"We checked with AT&T and they confirmed it was him," Resnick said. "They weren't receiving any signal after that initial call."

After the 911 call, Norwalk police and the marine unit responded to the beach to speak with the kayaker's friend. Westport units were called to the scene, as was the Norwalk Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard, which also had a helicopter en route to the scene.

Resnick said all emergency responders went out at night in "deplorable conditions."

"There was wind and rain and the wind was blowing the rain sideways," he said. "Mr. Celan put himself at grave risk and also our rescuers."

Resnick said Celan was blown toward Rowayton and was able to reach Wilson Point.

"He comes ashore and he brought his kayak on shore, deflated it, folded it up and walked home," Resnick said. "We sent an officer to his house to assure he was safe and sound and then we canceled the search."

Celan made it home around 2 a.m.

Resnick said police want to remind boaters to check the weather forecast before boating and to not use inflatable kayaks without lights at night. Boating at night without a light is against state law.

"Even on a canoe you have to have a light on your boat at night," Resnick said. "It probably wasn't a situation where he was intending to be out that late; he probably got caught in the wind but that's part of using common sense, good judgement and experience. Before you go boating you want to check the forecast."


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