RedactedNarrative: Operator1 launched his 12 foot, green and black, ascend kayak from porter beach into the waters of lake michigan at approximately 2:15pm.  He was accompanied by his 17 year old son operator2 who was in a 12 foot, blue and black ascend kayak they both were wearing properly sized and donned life jackets.  They had paddled north across the wind and waves.  The wind was from the west at approximately 10mph.  
   
  After approximately 30 minutes, they estimated that they were 0.5 miles offshore.  At that time, operator1 noticed that his kayak had an amount of water in it above and beyond the norm.  He decided to turn shoreward to head back to shore.  After completing his turn, a wave hit his stern and he felt his lower body from his legs up to his waist now in contact with water.  Shortly thereafter, another wave came over the stern which completely filled his kayak with water and effectively taking it from underneath him.  This action forced him out of the kayak.  He attempted to reboard his kayak by grabbing the combing of the cockpit and pushing down to lift himself atop it.  Operator1 advised that this action proved fruitless, as the pushing action only pushed the kayak further below the surface of the water due to it being swamped.  His kayak then submerged completely out of reach.
   
  Operator1 indicated to his son to paddle to shore while he held onto his son's kayak.  Operator2 paddled to shore at which point several bystanders observed the situation and swam out to assist in the final approach to the beach.  These bystanders carried operator1, now limp from hypothermic conditions, to the indiana dunes state park pavilion parking lot where porter fire, porter pd, and local ems personnel ultimately provided medical treatment.  Operator1 was warmed in the ambulance and then transported to porter regional hospital with his son accompanying him.
   
  The green kayak that operator1 was onboard was never recovered.  It is believed to be sunk or drifting east suspended somewhere in the water column.
   
  Upon follow up at the hospital, operator1 was still undergoing warming procedures.  Operator2 did not suffer any injuries or hypothermia.  Operator1 advised that the bystanders really helped as at the moment they swam out to help, he guessed he had only another 5 minutes of life left in him.  
    
  Operator1 advised that they had bought the kayaks about 2 years ago at bass pro.  They both had almost a dozen trips out on them over the last 2 years.  Today was their first trip this year.  They did not have any formal training or instruction.  He feels that there was somehow water entering the kayak abnormally.  He could not advise if it possibly had a crack or if maybe he took on too many waves.  His setup consisted of a sit-in kayak with a wide cockpit opening.  He did not have on any skirting to deflect water from entering the kayak.  Only the raised combing would be deflective of any deck wash.  After discussions, he believed the stern wave action might have caused the final swamping. 
   
  On a followup phone call to wife, she advised that operator1 was released from the hospital with no further complications.  She stated that they all had further discussions regarding how the kayak could take on water.  She advised they were concerned that possibly a loose scupper plug located on the stern of the kayak could have allowed water in as well.  They routinely unscrewed them to drain the kayaks while stored upside down, and were not completely confident that they were screwed back in all the way.
   it was estimated that the loss of the kayak and paddle would be approximately $700.00.
   