Texas Equusearch aiding in search for missing kayaker in Buffalo Bayou
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man and a woman paddled along the Buffalo Bayou near Memorial Park when their kayak capsized Friday night.
The missing kayaker is identified 36-year-old Jason Boyle. He went missing after his kayak capsized in Buffalo Bayou near Willowick Road. A woman was with Boyle and her kayak also capsized. She made it to shore.
Texas Equusearch volunteers arrived at Eleanor Tinsley Park at 6:30am to begin their second full day of searching.
"We're just going to go do what we do," said Tim Miller with Equusearch.
About 30 volunteers are searching the water by kayak and by foot along the shoreline of the bayou. Their plan is to start downstream from where Boyle was last seen and work their way up the bayou.
"I think we're looking at recovery right now. There was a witness (who) saw him go in and not come back up so unfortunately it looks like recovery and of course the sooner he's found, the better it is for everybody involved so, we're going to go ahead and give it our best shot," Miller said.
There was a glimpse of hope after searchers discovered a body in the bayou. An HPD said the body was not that of the missing kayaker, but most likely a homeless man. No missing person report had been filed on a person matching that description.
Boyle's friends and family went to the scene. Said Melissa Wigrem, a friend of the family, "It could have meant bad news or brought a sense of closure. Instead, it brought neither. "It's been an emotional roller coaster for us," she said.
Miller says Boyle's family will help search. He says they are still trying to come to terms with what happened Friday.
"They just can't really get a grip on it just yet. But we're going to support them the best we can and hopefully we can get (Boyle) located and let them move on with their life and get some type of closure and put their lives back together. It's the most difficult time in their life right now so we're going to let them know we're there with them."
