Sylacauga Excessive Faculty Head Soccer Coach Chris Smelley was situated protected Thursday night after he was reported lacking in Florida the identical morning.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned Smelley went fishing in his blue and black kayak round 8:30 a.m. within the Gulf of Mexico off Grayton Seaside, however had not been seen since.
The sheriff’s workplace mentioned Smelley was discovered miles from the shore. He was reportedly in good spirits when he was discovered.
He was noticed by a coast guard helicopter round 7:12 p.m. nonetheless in his kayak about two miles off Grayton Seaside. A pal was contacted by radio to select up Smelley by boat.
The sheriff’s workplace mentioned it searched the realm together with the South Walton Hearth District and had jet skis within the water.
Within the absence something and every thing else, hope might be the issue that adjustments an end result.
The group is rejoicing over Smelley’s protected return. It is the result they prayed for.
“He’s only a large man, nice chief locally. He loves our college students you may see a ardour in what he does,” mentioned Sylacauga Soccer Chaplin Chris Theilacker.
The U.S. Coast Guard joined the search with a small boat together with an NH60 Jayhawk helicopter out of New Orleans. The Bay County Sheriff’s workplace additionally despatched a helicopter to assist in the search.
A spokesperson for the Walton County Sheriff’s workplace mentioned crews have been ready to be out in a single day if wanted. Public Data Officer Corey Dobridnia mentioned the waters appeared calm, however the way in which the wind was blowing it is troublesome for individuals to get again to shore.
Smelley was final seen sporting a camo print swimsuit. He didn’t have a cellphone or a life jacket with him on the journey.
The sheriff’s workplace mentioned Smelley’s outing was solely purported to be an hour. He was final seen 9:30 am about 1.5 miles off the seashore.
The sheriff’s workplace mentioned Florida Fish and Wildlife additionally launched from the Inlet at Destin Cross and is heading east in direction of Grayton.
Sylacauga Metropolis Colleges Superintendent Dr. Michele Eller launched the next assertion earlier than he was situated:
“Our ideas and prayers are with Coach Smelley and his lovely household together with all search and rescue personnel as they search for him throughout this time.”
Smelley is a former College of South Carolina quarterback who performed below coach Steve Spurrier through the 2006-2008 seasons. He was additionally on the College of Alabama’s baseball crew from 2009-2010. Smelley is a Tuscaloosa native. He and his spouse have 4 kids.
Smelley started his teaching profession as an assistant at Hillcrest Excessive Faculty. He was head coach at American Christian Academy earlier than taking up at Sylacauga Excessive Faculty as head coach. Smelley additionally hung out because the quarterbacks coach at Hoover Excessive Faculty.