Authorities from Lawrence County received a message from Sharp County reporting two overdue kayakers from a canoe rental facility from Hardy. According to Sharp County Dispatch the two had missed the take out point and were last spotted around Williford just before sunset.
The male and female from the Jonesboro area had begun their river trip around 11:30 am on Wednesday.
Ravenden Police, Arkansas Game and Fish and a boat team from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Dive Team we’re notified by Lawrence County Dispatch and sent to the area. Ground units began combing the area beginning at Ravenden while a boat was launched and sent up river in an effort to make contact. Authorities had attempted to make contact by cell phone but service is poor in that area.
Around 10:30 pm the boat team found the kayak, two life vest and paddles abandoned on a rock beach several miles north of Ravenden. The two individuals had gotten off the river, walked a field road back to highway 63 and were found walking along the highway north of Ravenden about 3 miles.
The two were reported as tired and sunburned but not injured. Around midnight the kayak was returned to its owner. The two kayakers were returned to Hardy where their vehicle was parked.