LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A missing boater was found safe early Wednesday morning after he spent 11 hours on top of his overturned catamaran.
The man was found through the efforts of the Lake County Sheriff's Marine Patrol and the REACH 6 helicopter shortly after 4 a.m. Wednesday, as Lake County News has reported.
Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said Marine Patrol deputies were called out at 12:45 a.m. Wednesday after the man – whose name was not released – was reported as a missing or overdue boater.
A family member said the boater left Lakeside County Park at approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday on board a 16-foot Hobie Cat-type sailboat, Brooks said.
When the subject did not return, his family became concerned and reported him missing to the sheriff’s office, according to Brooks.
The Sheriff’s Marine Patrol initiated a search of the area after speaking with a family member at the park. Brooks said the search started at the county park and they worked west towards Lakeport.
He said a helicopter request was placed with both the California Highway Patrol and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, however neither was available.
Additionally a request was made with REACH Air Medical Services to determine if their helicopter had forward looking infrared (FLIR) capability. He said they advised it did not, however they did have night vision available and assisted with the search working east from the county park.
At approximately 3:30 a.m., Marine Patrol detected an intermittent radar return approximately two miles off shore from Lakeport, Brooks said.
A request was made to REACH to check the area of the radar return and they confirmed an object in the water. Brooks said REACH directed Marine Patrol deputies to the location, where they found the missing person on his overturned Hobie Cat.
The man said his boat overturned at approximately 4:30 p.m. the previous day due to a heavy gust of wind. He said the boat was relatively new to him and he was unable to right the boat, Brooks said.
Brooks said the man, who had spent approximately 11 hours on his overturned boat, was evaluated for injury and hypothermia.
Marine Patrol transported the man back to Lakeside County Park and reunited him with his family, according to Brooks.