Search continues for missing Northern California brothers whose kayak overturned while duck hunting
BUTTE COUNTY – Search efforts continue for two brothers who went missing at Thermalito Afterbay near Oroville over the weekend.
According to the Butte County Sheriff's Office, around 8:30 a.m. Saturday, one of the brothers was on a kayak when it overturned in the water – prompting the other brother to jump in to try and help.
The brothers, identified by authorities as 17-year-old Wesley Cornett and 19-year-old Andruw Cornett, have not been seen since.
Authorities say the brothers were out duck hunting when the incident occurred.
Throughout the weekend, search crews from around the region have been out looking for the pair. Dive teams have been part of the search effort, authorities say.
On Tuesday, the Butte County Sheriff's Office released a statement urging people not to call about volunteering to help in the search.
"We appreciate it, but at this time we are not requesting assistance from the public," the sheriff's office stated.
Search efforts continued as of Thursday, with the Butte County Sheriff's Office saying that San Joaquin and El Dorado county crews were using remotely operated vehicles with sonar and video. Crews located Wesley Cornett's wallet about 600 yards from where the 911 call was made after the brothers went missing in the water.
The Big Valley Dive Team was also deployed on Thursday to help search the water.
Thick underwater vegetation is hampering the search effort, officials say.
