Search On for Jet Skier Who Left Catalina

Rescue crews were searching Friday night for a man who left Santa Catalina Island on a jet ski headed for Dana Point and disappeared, authorities said.

Mark Walker, 39, of Trabuco Canyon had made the 32-mile trip from Orange County to Avalon earlier Friday, but he never made it back.

“We figure he ran out of gas,” said Coast Guard Petty Officer Brenda Toledo.

She said there had been reports that Walker was nearly out of gas when he arrived in Avalon.

“We also heard that he had lost his backpack on the trip over, and it contained all his money,” she said.

The island Harbor Patrol gave Walker fuel but would only fill his tank to 60%, Toledo said. She was not sure whether the Harbor Patrol knew Walker intended to return to the mainland.

Walker was reported missing at 3:30 p.m. and was still unaccounted for at 11 p.m.

A jet ski holds enough gasoline for 90 minutes to 2 1/2 hours of use, depending on the speed traveled.

Authorities said weather conditions were fair, with 3- to 5-foot seas and 8-knot winds from the southwest. Walker was wearing a wet suit.

The Coast Guard was searching with a cutter and two helicopters equipped with powerful lights to illuminate the sea.

Toledo said she had never heard of anyone trying to reach Catalina on a jet ski. “I don’t think it’s too common. . . . It’s probably not a smart thing to do,” she said.

Jet skis aren’t equipped with navigational lights to alert other vessels of their presence, nor do they have radio gear that could emit a distress signal.

Neighbors noted that Walker is an avid jet skier but also said that they were concerned for his safety.

Larry Mendoza, a neighbor, said he “saw (Walker) this morning with his jet ski . . . at about 8:30 a.m. or 9 a.m.”

Asked about Walker’s chances, Toledo said: “They’re good, because he has a wet suit on, and a jet ski floats. That will help a lot.”