Rescuers Search For Missing Canoer In SF Bay

August 18, 2011 12:26 PM

A Coast Guard crew on the San Francisco Bay. (CBS)

Filed under

Related tags

Bay, Boater, Canoe, Coast Guard, Rescue, San Francisco, Treasure Island

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – Rescuers were searching Thursday morning for a canoer who went missing near Treasure Island on Wednesday evening.

Michael Butler was in a canoe with two friends near Treasure Island, where he lives, when the boat overturned, according to the Coast Guard.

Butler’s friends swam to shore and headed home, but Butler stayed behind and climbed back into the canoe, Coast Guard officials said.

His friends returned to the shoreline and called the Coast Guard when they could not find Butler at about 6:15 p.m.

It is unclear why Butler stayed behind and did not go back to shore with his friends, Coast Guard Petty Officer Caleb Critchfield said.

The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter and two boats, and Sausalito and San Francisco fire and police boats were called in to assist with the search.

The helicopter search was later suspended because of low visibility, but the helicopter was dispatched back to the area at first light Thursday, Critchfield said.

Shoreline searches were being conducted by police in San Francisco, Sausalito, Tiburon and Berkeley.

The Coast Guard asked anyone who sees the missing canoer to call (415) 399-3451 or 911.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/08/18/body-found-near-richmond-may-be-missing-sf-bay-canoer/ Body Found Near Richmond May Be Missing SF Bay Canoer « CBS San Francisco

[...] The U.S. Coast Guard recovered the body of a man matching the description of a canoer who was reported missing Wednesday [...]
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/08/19/body-found-in-richmond-confirmed-as-missing-canoer/ Body Found In Richmond Confirmed As Missing Canoer « CBS San Francisco

[...] Related tags Canoe, Capsized, Coanoer, Coast Guard, Michael Butler, Overturned, Richmond, Treasure Island var addthis_product = 'wpp-261'; var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true};if (typeof(addthis_share) == "undefined"){ addthis_share = {"templates":{"twitter":"{{title}} {{url}}"}};}RICHMOND (BCN) – The Contra Costa County coroner’s office has confirmed that a body that was found near Richmond’s Brooks Island late Thursday afternoon is that of a canoer who went missing Wednesday evening. [...]