A Fourth of July outing at the Lake of the Ozarks ended in tragedy late Saturday night when a 25-year-old man from Kansas City drowned after entering the water near Lick Branch Cove. Rescue crews searched into the night but could not find him, then returned the next morning and recovered his body. A county coroner later pronounced him dead.
Official account from state troopers
According to troopers, the call for help came in around 9:42 p.m. on July 4 after the man went into the water near the five-mile marker of Lick Branch Cove in Morgan County and did not resurface. The Missouri State Highway Patrol's online incident report lists the victim as a 25-year-old male from Kansas City, notes that he was not wearing a personal flotation device, and states that he was located at about 9:35 a.m. on July 5. Morgan County coroner Jim Tooles set the time of death at 9:42 p.m. on July 4.
The report also records that the body was taken to Phillips Funeral Home in Eldon and that this incident marked Troop F’s sixth drowning of 2026, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Search and recovery
After overnight efforts failed to locate the man, search crews returned to Lick Branch Cove on Sunday morning and recovered his body shortly after 9:30 a.m., as reported by KSHB. Authorities have not released the victim's name, citing the need to notify next of kin first.
A troubling pattern at the lake
This latest drowning adds to a string of recent water deaths at the Lake of the Ozarks this spring, with local outlets and state reports documenting multiple incidents. Hoodline previously covered an unrelated June death tied to a low-head dam on the Niangua arm, a case that highlighted how the lake's calm-looking arms can mask dangerous currents. See Dam Walk Turns Deadly for earlier reporting.
Safety takeaway
Boating and drowning-prevention experts say many of these tragedies are avoidable. National data from the U.S. Coast Guard's recreational boating report show that drowning accounts for roughly three-quarters of boating fatalities and that most of those victims were not wearing life jackets. Officials stress the importance of properly fitted personal flotation devices, staying sober on the water, and keeping a close watch on swimmers near coves and docks, per the U.S. Coast Guard.
Troopers say there is no indication of foul play, and first responders continue to investigate. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact local law enforcement.
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