NICE, Calif. – The body of a local man who didn't return from a late December kayaking trip has been located.
A Lake County Sheriff's deputy on Saturday afternoon found the body of Michael Harold Belhumeur, 68, of Upper Lake, along the lakeshore near Nice, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.
Belhumeur was reported missing by his niece on the evening of Dec. 30. He had gone out on one of his routine kayaking trips earlier in the day, and when he didn't return home, his niece became concerned and called authorities, as Lake County News has reported.
A water search was conducted that same night by Lake County Marine Patrol deputies, while patrol deputies carried out a shore search, Brooks said.
Brooks said the search – which went well into the night – was hampered by high winds and waves.
Early the next morning the search resumed, by water, land and air. The searchers included Lake County Marine Patrol, a California Highway Patrol helicopter and Lake County Search and Rescue members, Brooks said.
While conducting a grid search on the water, a Lake County Sheriff's Marine Patrol deputy located a blue kayak, a life jacket and a paddle, which were positively identified as belonging to Belhumeur, Brooks said.
The search for Belhumeur has continued since the time he was reported missing, Brooks said.
Last weekend, search activities took place at the Davis Rest Area in Lucerne, Sheriff Brian Martin confirmed to Lake County News.
On Saturday afternoon, Brooks said a Lake County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol deputy was conducting a shoreline search for Belhumeur east of Ceago Winery, which is located in the 5000 block of E. Highway 20 in Nice.
Brooks said the deputy noticed an object in the water close to the shore. As the deputy was able to get closer, he determined the object was a body, which was positively identified as being that of Belhumeur.
A California Department of Fish and Wildlife officer was in the area and assisted the deputy with the recovery, Brooks said.
Brooks said family members were notified of the the recovery of Belhumeur's body.
An autopsy will be scheduled for sometime next week to determine the exact cause of death, Brooks said.