Rescuers recover body of kayaker, 55, from Lake Sutherland

UPDATE: Monday, March 3—

The medical examiner’s office has identified the kayaker as Lenard Kevin Jones, 57, of Ramona.

Sunday, March 2—

The body of a 55-year-old man who went missing while kayaking at Lake Sutherland near Ramona was recovered today.

The man was reported missing by a city worker at Lake Sutherland Dam just after 1:30 p.m. Saturday, after his fishing kayak was found floating upside down near the dam, according to sheriff’s Lt. Christine Robbins.

The employee told authorities the kayaker, who frequently fishes at the lake, had a heart condition, another sheriff’s official said.

Robbins said deputies checked the shoreline and requested a helicopter to assist in the search efforts. A search and rescue team and San Diego city lifeguards were also summoned when the initial search was unsuccessful, but they were also unable to find the fisherman before dark.

The search was suspended Saturday night due to bad weather and poor diving conditions, but it picked up again about 7 a.m. today, according to sheriff’s and lifeguard officials.

The man’s body was located later this morning, and officials started a recovery operation about 10 a.m., according to the San Diego-Fire Rescue Department.

The man’s identity has not been released.

Lake Sutherland, owned by the City of San Diego, is east of Ramona off state Route 78 and Sutherland Dam Road.