X
Visit Full Site

Kayaker Presumed Dead

The search for a 55-year-old kayaker missing since Friday off the Southern California coast has been called off. Coast Guard officials say Malibu resident Nicholas Buttle is

presumed dead.

Air Force helicopters and Coast Guard ships searched for Buttle for two days, covering a 50-mile area.

Buttle was riding in a two-seat kayak with another man Friday afternoon when high winds and surf caused him to fall into the ocean. Buttle reportedly was NOT wearing a life vest.

The other man was rescued Friday evening about three miles off Malibu. He was treated for hypothermia at UCLA Medical Center.

This post was last modified on 01/31/2009 5:56 pm