Search suspended after body matching 49-year-old kayaker’s description was found near West Bay, USCG says

JAMAICA BEACH, TX – The search for a kayaker who was reported missing since Friday in Galveston County has been suspended, according to officials with U.S. Coast Guard.

Barry Baham, 49, was last seen near Jamaica Beach, Texas. A photo shared on the US Coast Guard’s social media pages showED 12-14 foot white-colored kayak and two fishing poles possibly belonging to Baham.

A body was reportedly discovered on Sunday at 10:30 a.m., matching the description of the man.

“We are grateful for the support provided by the other first responders, volunteers and community members that came to aid in search efforts,” said Coast Guard Cmdr. Michael P. Cortese, search and rescue mission coordinator, Sector Houston-Galveston. “Our prayers are with the loved ones as they go through this challenging time.”

Multiple agencies, including Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office, Galveston Police, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department assisted in the search.


About the Authors

A graduate of the University of Houston-Downtown, Ana moved to H-Town from sunny southern California in 2015. In 2020, she joined the KPRC 2 digital team as an intern. Ana is a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur, a catmom of 3, and an aquarium enthusiast. In her spare time, she's an avid video gamer and loves to travel.

Moriah Ballard joined the KPRC 2 digital team in the fall of 2021. Prior to becoming a digital content producer in Southeast Texas and a Houstonian, Moriah was an award-winning radio host in her hometown of Lorain, Ohio, and previously worked as a producer/content creator in Cleveland. Her faith, family, and community are her top passions.

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