Body of 24-year-old man missing in Snake River has been recovered
Published at | Updated at
UPDATED STORY:
The following is taken from a Facebook post by the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office on Friday at 7:50 p.m.:
Ladies and Gentleman,
This won’t be the release that has all of the details. We just want to somberly report a successful recovery. This is a short video of us coming off the water with mission success, which is closure for the family.
We do not have permission to release a name and now is not the time for us to ask. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve side by side with our Search and Rescue family. We operate as one team with one mission in times such as these. We salute all the heroes that made success happen whether in the immediate area or those miles down river in boats or on foot. It takes a team, a pure why, good intuition, and great leadership.
We thank all of you for your support and concerns. You’ll never know how empowering it is to have you behind us. We offer our sincere condolences for all family and friends affected by this tragedy.
May he rest in peace.
ORIGINAL STORY (published at 10 a.m. Friday):
BINGHAM COUNTY — Deputies searching for a missing man in the Snake River say their efforts have moved from “water rescue” to “recovery.”
The Bingham County Sheriff’s Office received a call on Thursday at 4:15 p.m. reporting a 24-year-old man from Bonneville County had fallen into the river without a flotation device.
The man was reportedly recreating on a homemade pontoon raft at the BLM River access in the area of 1100 North on West River Road, a news release from the sheriff’s office said.
RELATED | Bingham County emergency responders searching for man in Snake River
Bingham County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jordyn Nebeker said the location is in between Firth and Shelley.
He was with two friends and the friends made attempts to rescue him, however the water is swift enough to make it difficult, the release said.
The sheriff’s office arrived on scene around three minutes later after the initial call. Emergency protocols were set in place and search and rescue efforts began on the water.
Air Idaho was additionally dispatched for aerial surveillance and possible patient transport on Thursday.
The pontoon raft was recovered about 400 yards south of the last seen location on the West Bank, however, nobody was near it.
“At this time we are not releasing the name of the person involved. Next of kin has been notified and we are going to rally around them and include them every step of the way moving forward,” the sheriff’s office said in the release.
Deputies are continuing their search efforts on Friday, although it might be a challenge with high winds. Nebeker said if the winds got too bad, they will have to shut down the efforts for the day and regroup.
“If anybody is recreating in the river or near the river, just keep an eye out,” Nebeker said.
He added there are several of their boats out on the water searching Friday morning.
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends…” the sheriff’s office stated. “Thank you all for your concern and please keep these people in your thoughts and prayers as well as our wonderful staff and volunteers as they risk in order to bring a family closure.”
