The body of a Port Ludlow man was found late Monday morning about 12 miles west of Port Angeles, almost a week after his disappearance off Marrowstone Island 40 miles to the east.
A surfer found the body of 79-year-old Walter Buhr Jr. about 11 a.m., floating face down in the kelp about 50 yards off Tongue Point.
The point is on the northwestern reach of Clallam County’s popular Salt Creek Recreation Area park at one of the narrowest parts of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
The discovery followed by six days the disappearance of Mr. Buhr, whose small boat was found running in circles in Admiralty Inlet east of Nordland in Jefferson County last Tuesday afternoon.
Drowning is suspected as the cause of death, but an autopsy will be conducted this week to determine the exact cause, said Clallam County Sheriff’s Sgt. Don Kelly, acting Monday as deputy coroner.
The body was carrying identification, Kelly said.
