Robert William McDonald Obituary

POLSON - After three days of searching for St. Joseph Hospital physician Robert McDonald, 43 of Polson, search and rescue crews from Lake and Flathead counties are no closer to finding the lost kayaker. As of Tuesday there was no talk of stopping the search.

"We don't have a timeline," said Lake County Sheriff's Public Informantion Officer Karen Sargeant.

There are several factors to consider when talking about a timeline.

"There is the weather, wind, visibility, sunshine," she said.

A person normally sinks to the bottom of the pool of water in which they drown, then after a period of time, he or she resurfaces to the top. But since there are so many factors in this search and rescue, McDonald's body may not resurface.

"If it's in shallower water, it would take three days or more, but if it's in deep water, he may not come up at all," Sargeant said.

At press time, search and rescue crews were scouring the area Lake County Sheriff's Department Search Dog, Sole' hit on just before sunset July 21.

Citizen snorkelers assisted rescue crews just before sundown on July 21, when they volunteered to scan the shallow shoreline along the search area.

McDonald disappeared after he left on a solo-kayaking trip around noon July 19. He was not wearing a life jacket, Sargeant said.

Soon after hearing news of McDonald's disappearance, many area residents assumed McDonald was the well-known Communication Director for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, since McDonald is a common name. Dr. Robert William McDonald is an infectious disease specialist, who received his medical degree at University of Alabama School of medicine, according tot he U.S. News and World Report website. McDonald was in practice for six years and began his service at St. Joseph Hospital in Polson in September of 2013.

Swim enthusiast Emily Von Jentzen said the lake was difficult to read throughout the weekend.

On Friday, water temperature was 70 degrees, she said. By Sunday the lake's surface temperature was 54 degrees.

"The wind was bad on Saturday and it shook up everything in the water," she said.

Von Jentzen coordinated an open swim charity race competition to benefit Polson cancer patient, five-year-old Isabella Allred. Von Jentzen's event was held all three days at Big Arm State Park.

Von Jentzen said it was impossible to speculate on what might have happened to Dr. McDonald.

"the water temps are getting pretty cold. It was stormy weather pretty early. The water temperature got pretty cold Saturday night and it depends on how (he might have) reacted to the cold water," she said. "It's hard o say. The lake is unpredictable and you can get fatigued pretty quickly in rough water."

Authorities first indication that something was wrong came when Rocky Point area residents, who were out floating on the lake from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday and found a kayak matching the description of McDonald's water craft, who left from bear Harbor Condos and texted a cell phone picture of the condominiums about 30 minutes into his trip.

Both air and water search and rescue crews scoured Flathead Lake Saturday afternoon and Sunday without success, then moved into recovery mode Monday morning when they brought a specialized Flathead County side-mount sonar detection search and rescue vessel to help Lake County Search and Rescue teams, Sargeant said.

Searchers tightened their 'grid' area to a swatch of lake between Bear Harbor Condos and the Narrows to the North.

Monday's recovery search ended at sunset, just after the Lake county Search and Rescue dog hit on a  particular place on the lake.

Tuesday's search yielded little new news, but search teams are not giving up. Sargeant said the kayak originally found  by the boaters was not yet positively identified as being McDonald's. No other personal items were found at presstime.

McDonald is a white male, about 5'9" and 185 pounds. He has gray hair and blue eyes. McDonald was in a yellow Eclipse, cockpit kayak with a paddle that has a black shaft with white paddles with the logo "Aquaboard".

Mcdonald's friends at St. Joseph Medical Center are very worried about hteir friend and colleague.

"Rob is a valued member of our medical community and part of our St. Joe's family. Please keep Rob, his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers," said James Kiser, Chief Executive of Prividence St. Joseph Medical Center.

"We are all concerned about the welfare of Dr. McDonald and ask that you please respect the family's privacy at this time," said Kiser.

If anyone has information about his whereabouts or has found personal items of any kind, please call the Lake County Sheriff's office at 406-883-8206.