Crime & Safety
South Padre Island, TX Rescue: 2 Missing Kite Surfers Found Alive
South Padre Island, TX – Two missing kite surfers were safely located near South Padre Island after a Texas Department of Public Safety aircraft helped coordinate a water rescue, including the discove
By Mara Ellison · 2026-10-19T23:48:09.140Z
South Padre Island, TX – Two missing kite surfers were safely located near South Padre Island after a Texas Department of Public Safety aircraft helped coordinate a water rescue, including the discovery of a man holding onto a channel marker.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the agency's Aircraft Operations Division was conducting a border interdiction patrol in support of Operation Stonegarden when it received a request for assistance from the South Padre Island Police Department .
Officers were searching for a missing kite surfer, prompting the DPS aircrew to assist with locating the individual from above.
Aircraft Locates Missing Man in Water
Working alongside officers on the ground, the DPS crew began scanning the surrounding waters.
The aircraft eventually located a man in the water, allowing responders to coordinate a rescue with a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden vessel.
Footage shared by DPS shows the missing kite surfer holding onto a channel marker as the aircraft monitored his location.
The man was subsequently rescued safely.
Authorities said a second missing kite surfer, identified only as a woman, was also located during the response.
Both individuals received medical attention following their rescue.
Multiple Agencies Coordinate Rescue
The operation involved personnel from Texas DPS, the South Padre Island Police Department and Texas Parks and Wildlife.
DPS credited coordination between aircraft personnel and ground and water responders with helping bring the incident to a safe conclusion.
Officials did not disclose how long the two kite surfers had been missing, what caused them to become stranded or the extent of any injuries.
Their identities were not released in the department's initial announcement.
The rescue highlights the role aerial surveillance equipment can play in locating people in distress across coastal waterways.
DPS emphasized that cooperation among participating agencies was essential to the successful outcome.
No fatalities were reported, and both missing kite surfers were located.