Two teenage brothers have been missing for over a week in Northern California after they went duck hunting in stormy weather on Dec. 14.
Two brothers, Wesley Cornett, 17, and Andruw Cornett, 19, decided to go hunting at the Thermatilo Afterbay. This large body of water is located in Butte County and boasts an impressive 17 miles of shoreline and 4,300 surface acres of water.
“Approximately 250 people from 21 different organizations have been searching for Wesley and Andruw Cornett since last Saturday, the day the two brothers went missing while duck hunting at the Thermalito Afterbay,” the Butte County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post earlier this week, along with a video detailing high-tech efforts to find the two missing teenagers in weed-covered water.
Search efforts began the same day the teenagers went missing, with SCSO deputies, detectives, the BCSO Aviation and Marine Unit, and BCSO Search and Rescue responding to “reports that one of two duck hunters had overturned on a kayak, and the other one swam into the water to try and help.”
Jeff Eggleson of Big Valley Divers said “the most difficult thing” rescuers have to do is “get through the weeds” at the base of Thermatillo Afterbay. (BCSO/ Facebook)
Clark added that the sheriff is now calling the search for her sons a “recovery” mission.
“This is a freak accident that my family and I are trying to wrap our heads around and we also have 4 girls at home who we still need to care for,” Clark wrote. “This is hard for me to write as im beyond broken into so many pieces if you can please find it in your heart to donate and help our family find and lay my handsome two young boys to rest any amount of support will forever be blessed for our family.”
