05-19 | Official Media Statement: Missing Kayaker Recovered from West Bay, May 18

May 19, 2026

Media Contact: TPWD News, Business Hours, 512-389-8030

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GALVESTON – Texas Game Wardens and partner agencies recovered the body of a missing kayaker in West Bay on Monday, May 18.

The search began after two adult brothers launched kayaks in West Bay on the evening of Sunday, May 17. Neither was wearing a life jacket when one of the kayaks capsized. One brother was able to make it back to shore, but the other did not resurface.

Texas Game Wardens, along with local, state and federal partners, searched for the missing man on Monday, eventually locating and recovering him.

The man was released to the Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office. Please contact them for identification information.

Our thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.

Texas Game Wardens urge everyone on the water to wear a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Most boating fatalities in Texas involve victims who were not wearing one.

About Texas Game Wardens

Texas Game Wardens, within the Law Enforcement Division of TPWD, are responsible for enforcing laws related to the conservation and management of natural resources and public safety through community-based law enforcement. Their mission is to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Additionally, they play a crucial role in search and rescue operations during natural disasters, exemplifying their commitment to protecting both the environment and the people of Texas.

If you witness a fishing, wildlife or boating violation in progress, please call 1-800-792-GAME (4263) immediately and report it to Operation Game Thief (OGT), Texas’ Wildlife Crime-Stoppers Program. You can also text your tip by sending the keyword TXOGT plus your tip to 847411 or through the Texas OGT App, available for iOS and Android devices. Dispatchers are available 24/7.