Efforts Continue to Recovery Body of Area Man from Kaskaskia River

(SHELBY COUNTY DIVE TEAM COMMANDER AUSTIN PRITCHARD)

Crews from a number of area law enforcement agencies resumed their efforts today to recover the body of a man from the Kaskaskia River.

The incident occurred just after 5pm Saturday in an area about a quarter-mile north and east of Illinois Route 128 between Beecher City and Cowden.

(PHOTOS COURTESY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY DIVE RESCUE TEAM COMMANDER TERRY TRUEBLOOD)

Shelby County Dive Team Commander Austin Pritchard said the 35-year-old man was headed down the river in a kayak as part of a group of people, some in kayaks, some tubing, when the man encountered a logjam that spanned the width of the river. While the others were able to avoid the logjam or get to shore, the man went under the logjam. Pritchard thinks the logjam might have created an undertow that sucked the man under the logs and debris.

Rescue crews located the man's body Sunday under the logjam using an underwater camera provided by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

One media outlet has reported a name of the man, but law enforcement officials have not confirmed the identity. There have also been Facebook reports about the man attempting to help another person in the water before getting into distress himself, but we have not been able to confirm those reports.

Here's a conversation News Director Greg Sapp conducted at the scene of the recovery effort just before 4pm Monday with Austin Pritchard...

Numerous agencies have participated in the recovery effort including the Shelby County Dive Team, Effingham County Dive Rescue Team, Cowden Fire Protection District, Tri-County Fire Protection District, US Army Corps of Engineers, American Red Cross, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Shumway Fire Protection District, and the Shelby County Sheriff's Department. Austin Pritchard also thanked CF Industries, who owns the land where the recovery is being staged, for their cooperation.