MIDDLEBURY, Conn. — DEEP officials have identified a kayaker who went missing over the weekend.
Middlebury Fire crews recovered a body in Long Meadow Pond by the spill way. Searchers used sonar from CT State Police and Newtown Police to help locate the body.
DEEP identified the deceased kayaker as 26-year-old Brian Saucier, of Prospect.
Officials noted Saucier's age was previously reported incorrectly.
Multiple agencies were on the scene, along with the State of CT dive team, Middlebury, Oxford, Bantam, Morris and Thomaston dive team.
First responders in Middlebury suspended the search for a missing kayaker Saturday night at 8:50pm.
Middlebury Fire Chief Brett Kales said they responded to Long Meadow Pond around 2:30 p.m. Saturday when someone heard someone in distress and found an overturned kayak.
The State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, two fire departments and two dive teams searched for the missing kayaker at Long Meadow Pond until dark but did not find anything.
Chief Kales said an overturned male kayaker was calling for help at 2:42 p.m.
Authorities say it is unlikely that weather played a factor in the kayak overturning.
The search teams found a kayak, paddle and belongings on Saturday during there search.
In addition to the Middlebury fire and police departments, the Oxford and Thomaston fire departments, Region 5 Dive Team and NUSAR Dive Team responded to the scene.
Fire officials also posted a cautionary notice on their Facebook page, saying:
PLEASE REMEMBER while the days are getting warm the water is still very cold. Wear your life jacket while boating especially before Memorial Day.
