The body of Dr. Rob McDonald, the kayaker who disappeared a week ago on Flathead Lake, was found Friday afternoon by the Two Bears Helicopter from Flathead County.

The body was spotted just south of Big Bull Island at about 2:45 p.m.

Lake County Search and Rescue boats and a Flathead County Sheriff’s Office boat that were on the water for the search effort went to the area pinpointed by the helicopter. McDonald’s body was recovered and transported to the state Crime Lab in Missoula.

The body has been positively identified as Robert W. McDonald, who was 43 when he went missing July 19 after departing on a kayak trip from the Bear Harbor condominium complex in Polson.

He was reported missing that night when he failed to return, and a search was immediately launched. His kayak was recovered from Polson Bay by a group of boaters who did not know anyone was missing at the time.

McDonald had been a staff physician at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson since last September.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office extended thanks in the search effort to Swan Search and Rescue, the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, ALERT helicopter, Two Bear’s search helicopters and citizens whose tips aided in the search and recovery effort.