Presumed body of windsurfer found

An autopsy is planned for what officials believe is the body of Monica Weyant

The Honolulu medical examiner is scheduled to perform an autopsy today on the body believed to be that of a windsurfer missing since Saturday.

KITV PHOTO Monica Weyant: A body matching her description was found in water just off Lilipuna Road in Kaneohe

Honolulu firefighters retrieved a body matching her description in the water just off Lilipuna Road yesterday, said Capt. Kenison Tejada, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman. He could not say whether there were any obvious injuries.

Personnel aboard HFD's Air 1 helicopter spotted the body about 6:45 a.m. floating against a wall in a spot close to where Weyant's board was found Saturday, Tejada said.

Rescuers believe the body floated to the surface sometime overnight after being stuck underwater Saturday and Sunday. Tejada said scuba divers searched a deep channel nearby for two days but were hampered by poor visibility.

HFD's fire rescue unit took the body to shore at a private residence off Lilipuna Road to wait for the medical examiner.

Weyant's husband, Dan, went to where the body was taken to shore but declined to attempt to identify it as his wife, Tejada said. Personnel from the Medical Examiner's Office said they later talked to him and made a presumptive identification based on the body's clothing. Monica Weyant was reportedly wearing a wet suit. The medical examiner plans to make a positive identification through fingerprints.

People who knew Weyant describe her as a proficient windsurfer.

Her husband told officials that Weyant was supposed to return to shore by 11 a.m. Saturday. When she did not, he went to look for her in the bay aboard a catamaran and reported her missing at 1 p.m. The search for her over the weekend included 25 members of the Kokokahi Sailing Club and personnel from the Coast Guard, state Department of Land and Natural Resources and HFD.