A kayaker was found dead in the San Vicente Reservoir Saturday afternoon, according to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.
Nicolas Khaiaphone of Chollas View, known to family and friends as Jude, was discovered at around 12:15 p.m. near the shoreline.
This came after local lifeguards launched a search after an overturned kayak was spotted at around 11 a.m.
Khaiaphone was 50 years old. He was said to be a respected member of San Diego's Laotian community.
"You don't even want to be out there on a boat like that, you know, for that matter," said Ken Hemer with Rocky Recreation Store. "A lot of guys came back in because the wind was blowing so hard, it's very difficult."
Hemer said conditions on Saturday were not favorable for kayaking.
Khaiaphone’s body was handed over to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office to determine the cause of death.
Local
The San Diego Police Department is investigating because the San Vicente Reservoir is owned by the city.
Khaiaphone is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Six months ago, a 12-year-old Canadian girl drowned after falling off a boat into the reservoir. Her body was found five days later. She was wearing a life jacket but slipped out of it.
