Nicholas Howard Buttle, a 55-year-old resident of Malibu, California, was last seen on December 7, 2001. He and a friend, Eric Hammer, departed from Corral Beach in a two-person kayak to perform maintenance on a yacht anchored 600 yards offshore. As they made their way back to shore, they encountered rough weather conditions due to strong winds, which had been forecasted earlier that day. During their return, Buttle was knocked out of the kayak near Dan Blocker County Beach, and despite rescue efforts, he was never seen again.
Authorities rescued Hammer later that evening, approximately three miles from the shore, suffering from hypothermia. Their kayak and paddles were recovered, but Buttle’s body was never found. Although a search was conducted by air and sea until December 8, 2001, Buttle is presumed to have drowned. Despite this, his case remains classified as an open missing person case, and his remains have never been located.
Last Seen: Dec 7, 2001
