Kayaker, Stranded 2 Days, Is Rescued Off of Hawaii

A kayaker was found alive about 80 miles west of the Big Island, two days after calling for help on his cellular telephone to report being stranded at sea.

Jonathan Stockton, 28, of Phoenix, was spotted by a Navy P-3 Orion aircraft just before noon Tuesday, Coast Guard Petty Officer David Mosley said.

Stockton had been missing since Sunday afternoon, when he called on a cell phone to report his kayak was taking on water about 10 miles from the Big Island. An English teacher and missionary, he called back that night before dusk to say he spotted a search plane, but crews were unable to locate him before the phone’s battery died, the Coast Guard said.

“When they found him, they were able to see him waving his arms,” Mosley said.

A Coast Guard C-130 aircraft arrived on the scene about 12:30 p.m. and dropped a life raft and supplies. A Coast Guard helicopter dispatched from Oahu reached the scene at 1 p.m. and had Stockton out of the water about 15 minutes later.

A spokeswoman at Kona Community Hospital said he was in good spirits and in stable condition.

“I had a choice, to stay with the boat, or swim to shore,” Stockton said. “I chose the boat. I could have kicked myself for that.”