Volunteers join ocean search for missing football player

Honolulu firefighters joined rescue personnel from the Coast Guard, city Ocean Safety and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources in the continued search Sunday for 18-year-old Dayne Ortiz, who disappeared after his kayak capsized in waters off Mokuleia.

Ortiz, a defensive back on the Farrington High School football team, and his brother were kayaking in separate vessels late Saturday afternoon when Ortiz’s kayak overturned. Ortiz’s brother attempted to assist him but was unable to reach him.

Ortiz’s kayak later washed ashore.

Rescue personnel from the Honolulu Fire Department and Coast Guard searched the area through the early evening Saturday before suspending the effort due to darkness.

The search resumed early Sunday morning with a massive coordinated effort involving divers, boats, personal watercraft, helicopters, ground personnel and dozens of volunteers.

During a scan of the area where Ortiz was last seen, HFD divers recovered two pieces of black board shorts that Ortiz’s parents identified as belonging to their son, according to fire department spokesman Capt. Carlton Yamada.

Diving activity was halted briefly after a helicopter crew spotted two tiger sharks in the area.

Working from morning to evening, rescuers used computer-generated drift patterns to identify possible areas to search.

In consultation with Ortiz’s family, and in consideration of ocean conditions, the rescuers suspended their search at sundown. The Coast Guard called off its active search completely.