OGUNQUIT, Maine — Maine Marine Patrol recovered the body of Donald Vardell, Jr., on Tuesday in the water about 12 miles from his kayak.
Marine Patrol had been searching for the 53-year-old New Hampshire man who had last been seen Sunday preparing to launch his kayak in Portsmouth, N.H. His overturned boat was discovered Sunday near Wood Island at the mouth of the Piscataqua River in Kittery.
Vardell's body was found by a fisherman at approximately 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, three miles east of Ogunquit, and approximately 12 miles from his kayak. Marine Patrol recovered his body, which has been taken to a local funeral home.
The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) says Vardell's empty, capsized boat was found Sunday around 2:40 p.m. by a recreational boater, which prompted the search.
The U.S. Coast Guard began to search for Vardell near Wood Island on Sunday; the Portsmouth Police Department and the Kittery Harbormaster assisted in the search.
The search continued on Monday with assistance from the Kittery Police Department, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, and New Hampshire Marine Patrol.
Maine Marine Patrol led search efforts on the water and from the air on Monday and continued search efforts on Tuesday, which concluded with the recovery of his body.
Portsmouth Police Department will conduct the investigation into this incident.
