By EdSnyder/Outdoors
Rollover Pass, TX, On Bolivar Peninsula
A family kayaking trip to Rollover Pass almost ended in tragedy when a father and his two sons decided to Kayak out into the Gulf of Mexico. Jin Choi of Austin, along with his two sons, Paul and John, launched their Kayak’s off the beach east of Rollover Pass right into the teeth of an oncoming squall.
“At first we didn’t think anything about it,” stated Paul, “due to the fact that the Gulf waters were calm with a slight chop, But then, as we paddled out about 100 yards, a Squall suddenly hit hard with 30 plus mph winds and high seas.”
The kayakers suddenly found themselves in the raging sea after their craft flipped over. While the younger son, John, swam for shore and help, the other two stayed with their overturned kayaks in hopes of reaching safety.
Jin Choi attempting to rescue his son from his flipped kayak
Help was found in the form of two watercraft, a jet-ski and a 14 ft boat. The jet-ski headed out to rescue Paul while the boat, a 14 ft craft, went out to see what they could do. The Father, Jin Choi, who stayed with his craft, was washed up on the beach west of Rollover, while Paul and his craft were being sucked towards the Pass by a strong incoming tide. The Jet-Ski rescued Paul while the rescue boat attempted to tie a rope to a tow Paul’s kayak to shore. But upon towing the kayak they found it was full of water and stalled the 14 ft boat several times. This caused them to cut it loose. The kayak was then sucked by the rip tide through the pass, and under the bridge, where it was finally grabbed by several fishermen who pulled it to the bank.
Jet Ski bringing Paul Choi in from his overturned kayak
Rescue Craft operator trying to hook a tow rope to the upturned kayak
Meanwhile, as the rescue boat neared the shore, a rouge wave flipped it and its occupants into the roiling surf. A few people on the beach then rushed out to help the rescuers onto the safety of the shore. All of the rescued and the rescuers are safe, but some very expensive fishing gear was lost to the rough seas.
Rescue boat flips, rescuers had to be rescued
Writer’s Note: Being a former Kayaker myself, I can’t understand WHY they didn’t heed the weather warnings, OR, even recognize the fact that a storm was headed straight towards them! Usually kayker’s are cautious and safety minded. But I don’t see any of that here!
Anglers pulling the kayak out of the pass
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God bless all of them! Glad there was a happy ending.
awesome people!