Body of missing kayaker found in Housatonic River

STRATFORD -- The body of a kayaker who went missing Sunday morning as Superstorm Sandy approached Long Island Sound was found in the Housatonic River in Stratford Monday.

Jet Krumwiede, 21, of Morrell Ave., Milford, had been missing since Sunday, Oct. 28th after a kayaking accident near Silver Sands State Park.

Krumwiede had been missing since he was tossed from his kayak in rough waters, while paddling back to shore from Charles Island.

According to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, a friend who tried to assist him, 21-year-old James Root, also ended up in the water, where he was rescued by the Milford Fire Department. He had been clinging to his kayak. Neither man was wearing a personal flotation device.

Firefighters, police and Coast Guard boats had to call of the search for Krumwiede Sunday evening as the Long Island Sound waters became too rough in advance of the storm's arrival.

Officials said Krumwiede's body was seen floating in the Housatonic River in Stratford around 2:15 p.m. Monday by a worker for the Army Corps of Engineers who was involved in a dredging project there.

Stratford Fire Department boat Marine Rescue 1 and Stratford Police Marine 1 responded to the scene and worked together to pull Krumwiede's body out of the water.