A multi-day search on the Ohio River near New Richmond took a somber turn Sunday when crews recovered a body while looking for a kayaker who vanished after two kayaks capsized on Thursday. After days of sonar sweeps and dive work, what began as a rescue effort formally shifted into a recovery operation.
Body Found Near Mile Marker 449.1
New Richmond Fire & EMS said the body was found around noon near Mile Marker 449.1. Crews were sent to Washington Street near Adamson Road, where they coordinated with state and federal agencies on the response.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Coast Guard were notified, and officials turned the scene and recovery efforts over to ODNR. The person’s identity has not been released, according to WKRC.
How The Search Unfolded
The search began Thursday afternoon after reports that two kayakers had capsized just off U.S. Route 52. One person was pulled from the water and accounted for. The second kayaker never resurfaced, triggering an intensive river search.
Teams worked the stretch of river between mile markers 446 and 450, using boats and specialized equipment as they pushed into Thursday evening and through Friday. As hours passed with no sign of the missing kayaker, the operation shifted from a rescue to a recovery effort. That timeline and the change in posture were detailed by FOX19.
ODNR, Sonar And Dive Teams
Captain Michael Sterwerf of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources described the grim nature of the work in an interview with FOX19.
"Unfortunately, we all have the job of doing this," Sterwerf said, explaining that ODNR used side scan sonar to map the riverbed and identify targets for dive teams to check. Nearly a dozen local and regional agencies, including county dive units and mutual aid fire departments, assisted in the search, according to officials.
Investigation And Safety Reminders
Authorities said the recovery has been turned over to ODNR, which will handle the investigation and release identifying information when appropriate.
Officials used the incident as a sober reminder about basic boating and kayaking safety. They emphasized wearing a life jacket, staying alert to river conditions, and avoiding strong currents, and they directed the public to safety guidance from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety program.
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