TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Former Bay Area Man Missing After Canada Kayak Trip

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOSH POLTILOVE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 15, 2008

TAMPA - A 30-year-old Bloomingdale High School graduate on a kayaking trip in Canada is missing and presumed dead.

Matthew A. Brown hasn't been heard from since Saturday, when a storm rolled through Bow Lake in Alberta, where he was kayaking.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police fear that Brown drowned. He was not wearing a life jacket, Cpl. David Vanden Brink said.

"The active search is complete, but we will continue to investigate," Vanden Brink said.

On Thursday, Larry Brown of Tampa called his son a free spirit who knew from an early age that he was going to go his own way.

After leaving Tampa for Gainesville, Brown played guitar in several bands and as a solo act. He also composed music, including instrumental acoustic guitar music. He loved cycling cross-country.

He moved to Portland, Ore., in June and decided to take off three months before starting a job in September as a nurse. He flew to Alaska and planned to ride his bicycle to Portland. A friend was to travel with him.

They were ahead of schedule on their trip and decided to stay at Banff National Park in Alberta.

That park was where he was last seen.

"Matt was so taken with Bow Lake and the beautiful surrounding area," his family wrote in an e-mail to the Tribune. "Saturday afternoon was a warm, sunny day, so Matt decided to take out a kayak. He took a book and some sunscreen with him. After he had been gone for about an hour, a severe thunderstorm passed through."

The storm lasted an hour or longer, and afterward people went looking for him. People in boats found the kayak, but not Brown.

Authorities looked for him that night and the following day, his father said.

The family was called early Sunday morning on their way to church to be told Brown was missing. At that point, the family thought there was still hope. A call hours later with Royal Canadian Mounted Police made it clear there was little likelihood he would be found.

The search was suspended late Sunday afternoon in Alberta, and investigators told the family that because the lake is deep and the water so cold, it is unlikely the body will be recovered.

"They had done a very good job of preparing us mentally this was the likelihood," Larry Brown said.

Some of the personal items Matthew Brown took on the trip are being shipped back for the family, who must travel to Portland to pick up his bicycle and other items.

In addition to his father, Brown is survived by his stepmother, Janice Brown of Tampa; his mother, Judith Johnston, and stepfather, Gerald Johnston, of Tampa; his brother Geoffrey Brown and his wife, Aparna, of Boston; his brother Capt. Nathan Brown of Fort Carson, Colo.; and his grandfather Maxime Girouard and his wife, Marguerite, of Pinellas Park.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday at noon at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 9715 56th St. N., Temple Terrace.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Brown's name to the Santa Fe College Endowment.

To listen to Brown's music, go to his MySpace page at www.myspace.com/witnessthefitness.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT