8/19 11:19 AM: 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.
Michael Butler, a 41-year-old Treasure Island resident, was in a canoe with two friends near Treasure Island on Wednesday when it overturned, according to the U.S. 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 called the Coast Guard at about 6:15 p.m. when they could not find Butler.
The Coast Guard worked with 12 local law enforcement agencies to conduct an extensive search for Butler that covered about 190 square miles, Coast Guard officials said.
A helicopter spotted an overturned canoe near Brooks Island late Thursday afternoon and a responding patrol boat found Butler’s body.
An autopsy has been conducted on Butler’s body, but the cause of death was still pending this morning, a deputy coroner said.
8/18 11:02 PM: The U.S. Coast Guard recovered the body of a man matching the description of a canoer who was reported missing Wednesday evening.
Michael Butler, 52, 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 partnered with 12 local law authorities for an extensive search that spanned about 190 square miles, Coast Guard officials said.
A helicopter spotted an overturned canoe near Richmond’s Brooks Island late this afternoon and a responding patrol boat discovered a body matching Butler’s description nearby.
Richmond police and fire departments assisted in recovering the body and local authorities are waiting for the coroner’s report to confirm his identity, according to the Coast Guard.
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