Developing: Dog in distress leads to discovery of missing kayaker's body

LONG BEACH -- A dog that appeared to be in distress in the Mississippi Sound near the Long Beach Harbor led authorities on a search for a missing kayaker Friday.

Fire Chief Mike Brown said a passer-by noticed a dog swimming in the water, and the person jumped in to rescue the animal. The good Samaritan's foot was hurt in the process and medical help was called.

Responding authorities began looking further into the incident and discovered an empty kayak.

The body of a middle-aged man believed to have been riding in the kayak was found about 5 p.m. near the Jim Simpson Pier, Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove said. Witnesses reported having seen the kayaker in the water earlier in the day.

Brown said it was unclear if the man's body had any apparent signs of external injury.

The Long Beach Fire Department and the state Department of Marine Resources coordinated the search effort, DMR spokeswoman Melissa Scallan said.

SunHerald.com will update this story as more information is available.

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 6:44 PM with the headline "Developing: Dog in distress leads to discovery of missing kayaker's body ."