RedactedNarrative: At Approximately 5:35 p.m., May 4th 2019, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission received a call in reference to a person in the water under the Gandy Bridge, Pinellas side. Witnesses reported a man in the water hanging on to the overturned kayak. Witnesses called to him with no reply.  The person hanging onto the kayak, who was not wearing a PFD, floated away from the Kayak. The witnesses called 911 and multiple agencies responded.  A multi-agency search was conducted by air and water.  His body and kayak were recovered a short time later, west of the Gandy Bridge.
  
  There is no definitive explanation of the events that led up to the Yukon kayak capsizing and the operator ending up in the water. Based on evidence, witness statements and information gathered to date, the kayak has no visible damage consistent with being struck with another vessel, however, it is possible that the kayak was unstable due to overloading and capsized in choppy water. It is unknown why the operator never replied to the witness or tried to swim to shore. It was reported that he was able to swim; he was found without a life jacket on. The Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled that the cause of death was drowning and that the manner of death was an accident. 
  