Sad Ending to Search for Marion Kayaker

The body of Dana Dourdeville, 21 of Marion, was found on January 12, about eight miles southeast from where he went missing 12 days ago on December 31st off West Island in Fairhaven.

The Fairhaven Police Department has released a statement that says Dourdeville’s body washed up on the shoreline of East Falmouth Sunday at about 2:00 p.m.  According to the press release, he was found by a volunteer civilian search party at Penzance Point.

“There was no evidence of trauma however, {sic} an autopsy will be conducted by the Massachusetts State Medical Examiner,” the press release states.

The first confirmed report identifying the body as Dourdeville’s came from the Facebook page “Search for Dana” just before 4:00 p.m. Old Rochester Regional High School Athletic Director Bill Tilden posted,

“Thank you the searching. We ask that you all stop searching and be safe. With very sad news that I do not want to tell everyone this way but Dana has been found and has passed. Please keep him and the family in your prayers and we promise to update everyone soon. You have all been amazing and this recovery would not have been possible without your help and prayers.”

Dourdeville went missing on December 31st while duck hunting alone with his kayak. When he failed to return home after sundown, Dourdeville’s mother went to Town Beach on West Island to look for him and found his vehicle still parked in the parking lot.

Search and Rescuers located Dourdeville’s red kayak at around 11:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve floating off Nye’s Ledge in Mattapoisett, 2.3 miles east of West Island.

Inside the kayak was a pair of dry gloves and nothing more. A massive search effort ensued over the next week, with factors like winter storms and sub-zero temperatures hindering the search, which ultimately turned up no clues as to what happened to Dourdeville or his whereabouts.

By Jean Perry

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