Missing elderly kayakers found safe in New Smyrna Beach after community tip

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Thomas "Tom" Siegle | Robert "Bob" McManus

ORLANDO, Fla. - UPDATE:

Thomas "Tom" Siegle and Robert "Bob" McManus, two elderly kayakers reported missing Saturday, have been found safe, according to the New Smyrna Beach Police Department.

Officials said a member of the community saw a social media post about the missing men and provided crucial information that led to their recovery.

Authorities expressed gratitude for the swift assistance from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Volusia County Beach Safety.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

Authorities are searching for two elderly men who failed to return from a Saturday morning kayaking trip in New Smyrna Beach, according to the New Smyrna Beach Police Department.

What we know:

Thomas "Tom" Siegle, 82, and Robert "Bob" McManus, 85, were last seen launching their kayaks from Callalisa Park at 598 S. Peninsula Ave. between 7:30 and 8 a.m. Police said the men typically return within two hours, but as of 4 p.m., neither had returned to their vehicles or homes.

Siegle was last seen in a blue-over-white two-tone kayak, while McManus’s kayak color is unknown. Authorities have not released details on their clothing.

What you can do:

Police are asking anyone who was on the water Saturday or may have seen the pair to contact the non-emergency dispatch line at 386-424-2000. The search remains active.

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