Reuben Shipp developed a ‘passion’ for kayaking just before he drowned

THE missing kayaker who’s body was found after an extensive search of Tuggerah Lake this morning has been identified at 44-year-old Reuben Paul Shipp.

Reuben Paul Shipp’s body was found after he went missing kayaking in Tuggerah Lake.

AN artist and musician who had only recently developed a passion for kayaking is believed to have drowned after capsizing in a “howling north easterly” and knocking himself unconscious.

Reuben Paul Shipp was last seen getting into his beloved red kayak and setting off for a paddle down Ourimbah Creek towards Tuggerah Lake about 1.30pm yesterday.

The 44-year-old had only moved into a water front property at Chittaway Bay to help a family friend adjust and cope following the death of her husband three and a half months ago.

The woman raised the alarm about 9.30pm when he did not return.

Police find the body of a missing kayaker at Berkeley Vale.

Police launched an extensive search with the NSW Ambulance Toll helicopter also brought in to assist until the search was suspended overnight.

The search resumed this morning with assistance from Marine Rescue NSW and the PolAir helicopter.

Reuben Paul Shipp had recently developed a passion for kayaking. Picture: Facebook

Police recovered Mr Shipp’s body and his kayak near Tumbi Creek about 9.30am today.

The daughter of the woman Mr Shipp was living with said he had been a close family friend for many years and they were still struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.

She said his body was found with “a large bruise on his head” and it was believed he may have knocked himself unconscious after capsizing in rough conditions.

“He loved his kayaking, his music, he was a really sensitive guy,” she said.

“He recently got into kayaking, it became a big passion he did. He was just a great guy. In a way he died doing what he loved.”

His beloved kayak.

Reuben Paul Shipp was kayaking in Tuggerah Lake. Picture: Facebook

Originally from Tasmania she said Mr Shipp had lived in Sydney for “many years” where he was an artist and chef.

On his Facebook profile Mr Shipp posted maps of routes he had paddled up Ourimbah Creek to the back of Chittaway Shopping Centre and out into Tuggerah Lake.

“Today I kayaked around Pelican Island, I am stuffed, I didn’t take my camera though,” he said in one post.

“I ran into a 1.5 (metre) stingray which was actually frightening, the stinger was probably 75cm long. Sandpipers, Herons, Cormorants, Pelicans (called Henry) Native Hens and a Stingray, phew.”

Smart phone map app screenshots of routes Reuben Paul Shipp paddled on his beloved kayak.

Pictures: Facebook

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

A Marine Rescue NSW Tuggerah duty officer said the man’s body was found on the other side of Tuggerah Lake near Tumbi Creek.

Missing Kayaker: Map showing Ourimbah and Tumbi Creeks. Image: Google maps.

“It can get very, very dangerous,” the duty officer said.

“As soon as the wind picks up the waves pick up.”

The gruesome discovery at the south eastern side of the lake is consistent with the direction of yesterday’s strong north east winds.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology wind gusts of 33km/h were recorded at Norah Head about 1.30pm and peaked at 44km/h at 6.30pm.

Central Coast Paddlers secretary Nick Naughton said in those conditions the shallow nature of Tuggerah Lake produced very choppy waves of upward of half a metre.

“They do present difficult paddling conditions and very prone to capsizing,” he said.

“The only class that I would recommend in those conditions is a sea kayak, a proper fair dinkum sea kayak.”

Police established a command post to find the body of the missing kayaker.

Mr Naughton said conditions on the lake could change very quickly.

“Being on the lake in those conditions for a not a very experienced person is a dangerous situation,” he said.

“The lake under those conditions is actually worse than the ocean. If you get on the lake when the waves are half a metre or more, that’s a very dicey situation.”

Mr Naughton said the Central Coast Paddlers club offered advice and training for anyone looking at taking up kayaking or trying to decide which type of vessel was most suitable for them.