The search for a Poughkeepsie man continues after his kayak capsized on the Hudson River Sunday night. Time Warner Cable News reporter Briggette Sayegh has more on the rescue mission.
NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. -- Strong winds, a rough tide and cold temperatures are very dangerous conditions for kayaking. But that's exactly what troopers say a Poughkeepsie couple did on Sunday night.
"The winds picking up your kayak moving away from you really quickly. It can turn into a dangerous situation pretty quick," said Katy Behney.
Vincent Viafore and Angelika Graswald took kayaks out on the Hudson River on Sunday. Tragically, only Graswald returned to shore. Rough water and strong winds caused Viafore's kayak to capsize, and unlike his fiance, he was not wearing a life vest. Despite her best efforts, Graswald was unable to rescue Viafore.
"The Hudson River is unique in itself in this area. Lots of hazards. The river is tidal so the outgoing tide with the natural flow of the river is extremely strong. And at the time of this accident that's what the river was doing," said Trooper Kevin Gardner, team leader for the Troop F dive team.
Katie Baney, owner of a sporting goods store in Beacon, says won't rent out kayaks until at least mid May. And that as a rule, the sum of the air temperature and the water temperature should add up to more than 120.
"We don't even move our boats into the rental facility until the first weekend in May. So we don't even let it be an option," said Behney.
The search for the victim included helicopters and scuba divers as well as boats equipped with sonar. Rescuers say that at this point, the search area is only getting bigger.
"No one plans on tipping. But you have to sort of prepare for it," cautioned Behney.
Rescuers say in anticipation of Wednesday's bad weather, search operations won't be resuming until Thursday morning.