Surf Cat

A kitesurfer drifted out to sea off the New Jersey shore Thanksgiving afternoon, as high winds battered the region, officials said.

A 911 caller reported a kitesurfer, wearing all black, falling off a kiteboard about 500 yards off Corson Inlet near Ocean City and then drifting away around 3:20 p.m., the US Coast Guard said in a statement.

The caller was too far away to identify the surfer’s gender or age, a Coast Guard spokesman said.

The Coast Guard deployed a helicopter and boats for the search that continued into the evening.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sector Delaware Bay command center at 215-271-4960.