According to the Coast Guard, a good Samaritan called James City County personnel at about 12:50 p.m. Saturday after witnessing a lime green kayak capsize with one person aboard north of York River State Park.
When he didn’t see the kayaker resurface, the bystander went into the water wearing a life jacket to try to help.
A 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew launched out of Station Milford Haven and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew out of Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
Both crews arrived on scene after 2 p.m. and started searching with crews from James City County, Virginia Marine Resources Commission, and Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Crews found the body of the missing kayaker just after 5 p.m. using side-scan sonar detection.
Officials say the man was not wearing a life vest.
