NEW TOWN – A New Town man died in a kayaking accident on Lake Sakakawea on Friday.

According to Mountrail County Sheriff Corey Bristol, deputies were called to assist the Three Affiliated Tribes Police and first responders from New Town about 7 p.m. to assist with the rescue of a 38-year-old New Town man who had tipped his kayak while paddling near the Four Bears Memorial Bridge, west of New Town.

The man was not wearing a life jacket, but was hanging onto the drifting kayak while his girlfriend flagged down a passing motorist for help. Bristol said the New Town Fire Department attempted to respond to the scene with a boat, but responders with the New Town ambulance lost sight of him before the boat could arrive.

“They actually saw him still struggling when they were on their way, but they saw him go down. So we had a last known point,” Bristol said.

Bristol said attempts to locate the man above water by boat were unsuccessful, so a radar tow fish was deployed to hone in on a location. The search continued Saturday morning, and divers recovered his body after 1:30 p.m.

Bristol said the incident was “horrible,” and advised the public to use life jackets while on Lake Sakakawea.

The identity of the deceased has not been released at this time, but Bristol confirmed he was a tribal member.