Missing Fisherman Recovered Following Penfield Reef Incident in Connecticut

Penfield Reef off Fairfield, Connecticut, became the scene of a multi-agency search after a fisherman was swept away when rising tides stranded anglers on the exposed reef. Illustration/NEB

A week-long search for a missing fisherman ended June 21 when authorities recovered the body of 34-year-old Kwahiwi Edwards of Queens, New York, on a beach in Stratford, Connecticut.

Edwards disappeared on June 13 after he and another angler became stranded on Penfield Reef off Fairfield as the rising tide cut off their path back to shore. A nearby civilian entered the water to assist, but both the rescuer and one fisherman were swept into deeper water. Fairfield Police officers were able to rescue the civilian and the second angler, but Edwards could not be located despite an extensive search involving local agencies, Connecticut State Police, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The incident serves as a reminder that many New England reefs, ledges, and sandbars can become isolated quickly as tides rise. Boaters and anglers are encouraged to check local tide conditions before venturing onto exposed coastal areas.