Body of missing boater on Canandaigua Lake recovered and identified

Jacob Linton

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CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (WHEC) — The victim in the possible drowning on Canandaigua Lake was recovered and identified Monday.

Police say that Kirk D. Hobbs, 61, was visiting family in the Canandaigua area and was boating with a relative Friday when he entered the lake from the boat and went underwater without resurfacing.

Police called off the search on Canandaigua Lake Friday morning. Hobbs was recovered by deep water divers from the NYSP shortly before 1 p.m. Monday. The depth he was located in was approximately 170′ of water. Hobbs has been transported to Geneva Hospital for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Police say that there were two men—brothers—who were out on a boat Friday morning. One did not have a life jacket on. Police tell us the man on the boat attempted to save his brother’s life.

"The brother entered Canandaigua Lake without a personal floatation device and began to struggle in the water. Our 911 caller entered the water, and attempted to help him back to the boat, but was unable to do so. He threw a personal floatation device to him but the victim was not able to reach the device and was last seen going underwater," said Lt. Cirencione, OCSO.

The Sheriff’s Marine Patrol and drone were dispatched to the east side of Canandaigua Lake in the area of LeTourneau Christian Camp.

Divers from the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office and the Branchport Fire Department were deployed while a NYSP boat equipped with side scan sonar searched the area.

Shortly after 7:30 p.m., the sonar located a target of interest—what police believe to be the body of the missing boater.

Due to the depth of this target, special divers and dive equipment are necessary to make the recovery—those resources won’t be available until Monday morning. Recovery efforts will resume at that time.