NewsLocal News

Actions

Missing kayaker's body recovered after several days of searching

Drowning at Lake Corpus Christi State Park
Posted at 12:25 PM, Dec 17, 2020
and last updated 2020-12-20 19:54:14-05

UPDATE 12/20:
The San Patricio County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that the body of 68-year-old Philip Richard Boutin has been recovered by Texas Parks & Wildlife divers at Lake Corpus Christi.

UPDATE 12/18:
Two cadaver dogs with the Texas Game Warden's Office have been taken to Lake Corpus Christi to assist in the search for the body of a man who drowned there earlier this week.

San Patricio County Sheriff Oscar Rivera said these dogs have been placed on a boat in the lake.

Once they are out in the water, Rivera said the dogs will stick their noses into the water in hopes of picking up a scent of the missing man.

The victim has been identified as 68-year-old Philip Boutin of Corpus Christi.

Boutin's next of kin have been notified.

Crews are still looking for the body. They have employed dive teams and sonar has been deployed in the search that has so far been unsuccessful.

Boutin, a kayaker, has been missing since Wednesday.

The sheriff’s office is working with Texas Parks and Game Department are searching for Boutin's body.

Crews returned to shore a little after 4 p.m. Thursday, suspending the search for the day.

The San Patricio Sheriff's Office was first alerted to the issue when they received a 911 call, witnesses saw Boutin flipped over in his kayak on the water.