COLLIER COUNTY, Florida -- A Virginia man who went missing while kayaking in the Florida Everglades was found alive Monday afternoon, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.
Mark Miele, 67, embarked on a solo kayaking trip in the Everglades National Park on Jan. 22. He was due back on Jan. 29 but did not return.
His belongings, including his cellphone and wallet, were discovered Sunday night after they washed ashore. Cellphone data showed Miele’s last-known coordinates which were used for a targeted search.
He was spotted by a helicopter crew Monday morning a few miles from where his belongings were found while floating face up and wearing a life jacket. He was then taken to a hospital in Naples.
The sheriff’s office posted helicopter footage of the rescue.
Officials did not reveal how or when Miele lost his kayak.
Deputies were assisted by the National Parks Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in the rescue.
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