Search Underway for Missing Kayaker Elias Guermo Lara Vargas Near Honeymoon Island, Florida

Search for Missing Kayaker

• 🔍 Elias Guermo Lara Vargas, an 18-year-old, is missing after kayaking with two others near Honeymoon Island State Park.
• 🆘 The group departed from the Gulf side of Honeymoon Island approximately 24 hours prior to the search.

Incident Details

• 🌊 Vargas and a female kayaker were attempting to return to shore when her kayak flipped.
• 🏊‍♂️ As Vargas, a lifeguard, tried to assist the woman, his kayak also flipped, and both ended up in the water.
• 💨 The kayaks were separated from the individuals and later found on Kaledi Island.

Rescue and Conditions

• 📞 The person on shore called 911 around 6:24 p.m. yesterday.
• ⚠️ First responders encountered challenging conditions, including a small craft advisory, waves of three to five feet, and winds over 20 miles per hour.
• 🏥 The female kayaker was found in the water off Dog Beach, suffering from exhaustion and hypothermia, and was transported to the hospital.

Ongoing Search Efforts

• 🚁 Multiple agencies, including the Coast Guard, FWC, and several fire departments, are conducting a search by water and air for Vargas.
• 🙏 First responders acknowledge the difficulty of hearing and finding the female kayaker due to the severe conditions.
• 📞 Anyone with information regarding Vargas's whereabouts is urged to contact the Coast Guard's St. Pete sector.