Dont want to bash this guy or his family but I agree with Jbarbosa. If he had use a $20 life vest he prob would be alive today. I am not a kayaker but I think this should be followed in yaks and boats as well. I remember story about 3 years ago in NJ a dad and son were out on a party boat in the ocean and it was sporty. The son was jumping up and down with the swells and on a big one lost his footing and fell into the water. No life jacket and he drowned. Very sad for a dad to see his kid drown because of no life jacket. Be safe, not sorry.
Thoughts and prayers.