2 found dead in kayak accident
Men overwhelmed by rough waters at Galveston beach
Two men are dead after their kayak overturned off Pirates Beach in Galveston Saturday night.
Galveston Beach Patrol identified the victims as 25-year-old Raul Olvera and 20-year-old Alan Perez Ferreyra.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to their families,” Galveston Beach Patrol wrote in a statement.
The two men had been living in the Galveston home of Olvera’s brother for the past month, according to Galveston Beach Patrol. Saturday evening, they took a kayak out on the east side of Pirates Beach. Neither was wearing a life jacket, said Galveston Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis.
The surf was unusually rough, with strong winds and choppy waters.
“We were flying a red flag,” Davis said, “which means adults who swim well shouldn’t go above their waists in the water.”
The kayak overturned shortly before 6 p.m. on Saturday evening, according to Galveston Beach Patrol. Olvera was submerged for approximately 10 minutes before being pulled to shore by bystanders around 5:55 p.m. The bystanders initiated CPR and called 911, and Olivera
was transported to John Sealy Hospital ER, where he was pronounced dead at 7:01 p.m.
That night, emergency responders searched for Perez Ferreyra by jet ski, boat and helicopter for several hours. Those participating in the search included Galveston’s beach patrol, fire and police departments and emergency medical services, the United States Coast Guard and Jamaica Beach Fire Rescue. His body was recovered around 3:30 p.m. Sunday close to the shore, officials said.
A beach patrol official said Sunday night that searchers were looking for two more people — both boys — who vanished in the water. Authorities provided no additional details, but KPRC-TV reported the missing boys were believed to be ages 11 and 16.
Before both incidents, three people had drowned in Galveston in 2018. Davis said six to eight people drown in Galveston in an average year.
Galveston-based nonprofit Jesse Tree and the Beach Patrol Survivor Support Network are planning to visit the Houston men’s families to offer counseling and assess their needs.