Fort Worth dive teams and state game wardens spent yesterday scouring Marine Creek Lake after a kayaker went missing late Monday, turning a quiet east-side boat ramp into an active search scene. The effort kicked off when a friend called 911 after finding the missing person’s truck and kayak left behind at the east boat ramp, with no sign of the paddler.
Crews used sonar and dive teams to work the water, but as of last night, authorities said the kayaker had not been located. Officials have not released the missing person’s identity.
Search timeline and what crews found
The operation started late Monday night and stretched into Tuesday, as Tarrant Regional Water District officers ran sonar across sections of the lake. That search turned up personal items and a paddle believed to belong to the kayaker. Sonar sweeps were paused overnight, then resumed on Tuesday.
By Tuesday morning, Texas Game Wardens had taken the lead on the investigation and continued coordinating the search. A full probe into the incident is underway, and investigators have not publicly identified the missing person, according to FOX 4.
TRWD's role and where crews staged
The Tarrant Regional Water District’s Law Enforcement Division, which handles underwater investigations and dive recoveries for TRWD lakes, provided sonar and search support during the operation. TRWD public information notes that the east-side ramp and dock at Marine Creek Lake serve as access points for boats and dive teams. The listed address for that ramp is 2700 NW Loop 820, according to the Tarrant Regional Water District.
What safety officials say
State boating officials continue to warn that drowning remains a leading cause of recreational waterway deaths and urge paddlers to wear life jackets and check conditions before heading out. In recent years, drowning has accounted for more than half of all deaths on Texas waterways, and safety guidance stresses that life jackets should be available and properly fitted for every person on board, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Authorities are asking anyone who witnessed activity at Marine Creek Lake on Monday night, or who has information related to the missing kayaker, to contact local law enforcement. The investigation remains active, and officials say more details will be released as they become available.
