Search for missing kayaker continues on Lake Butte des Morts in Winnebago County

Michael Iriarte, 41, was reported missing Nov. 26 after going kayaking on Lake Butte des Morts.
Michael Iriarte, 41, was reported missing Nov. 26 after going kayaking on Lake Butte des Morts.

TOWN OF OMRO — The search for a missing 41-year-old man who went kayaking on Lake Butte des Morts Sunday resumed Monday.

Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that Michael Iriarte had been reported missing by family members at around 5:40 p.m. Sunday after he had launched his kayak in the area of Samers Bay to go fishing near Terrell’s Island and was last seen around 3 p.m.

Iriarte was wearing a blue-and-gray life jacket, a dark blue jacket, dark-colored pants, brown boots, a facemask and hat.

The sheriff’s office said the search Monday would include shoreline searches on foot with boats and a plane. In a later update on Monday, the sheriff's office said Iriarte's purple-over-white, 10-foot recreational kayak had been located.

Anyone with information can contact the sheriff’s office at 920-236-7300, ext. 0, or call 911.

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On Sunday, sheriff’s office deputies, Omro police, a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources warden, first responders and firefighters from Omro Rushford Fire Department, along with the sheriff’s office’s drone unit, all responded to the area and engaged in an extensive search of Terrell’s Island, Samers Bay and the Spring Brook area for several hours before the search was suspended, the sheriff's office said.

Contact Brandon Reid at 920-686-2984 or breid@gannett.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @breidHTRNews.

This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Search for missing kayaker on Lake Butte des Morts continues