Body found in Kansas river believed to be swimmer who disappeared early Sunday

Posted: September 1, 2013 - 1:07am
Updated: September 2, 2013 - 4:27pm

Update:

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A fisherman in Kansas City, Kansas reported finding a body in the Kansas river around 12:40 p.m. Monday.

The discovery was made near the Kansas Highway 32 bridge, just east of S. 59th Lane.

Kansas City, Kansas Police believe this is the man who disappeared in the river while swimming early Sunday morning in Edwardsville. (Original report below.) 

Police have not released the man's name, pending positive identification and family notification. 

Original Report:

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Firefighters from three area departments searched the Kansas river after a person reportedly fell in the water early Sunday.

A witness told firefighters that the man disappeared in the river near the jetty, which is just east of Interstate 435.

Kansas City, Kansas Fire dispatchers said they received the call shortly after 12:45 a.m. and dispatched Edwardsville Fire to begin a search of the area.

Edwardsville firefighters requested assistance from Kansas City, Kansas Fire with boats and Kansas City, Missouri Police with their helicopter. The Shawnee Fire Department was called to assist about 45 minutes later with additional boats.

Kansas City, Kansas Fire launched one airboat and had two bass boats that they were unable to launch due to shallow water. Shawnee Fire attempted to launch a shallow water boat from the Edwardsville boat ramp. They were also unsuccessful in their attempt to launch.

Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department Airboat 1
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The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department helicopter was over the river, for about an hour, with a search light and heat sensing cameras.

The missing man is said to be 44-years old. He was last seen wearing dark colored shorts and no shirt. Firefighters say that he was fishing with a group when he fell in and did not resurface.

Firefighters walked along both banks and did not report finding anything. Kansas City, Kansas Fire also had a crew downstream watching the river for any signs of the missing person.

Leavenworth County offered to send boats to assist in the search.

Authorities believe the man was swimming when he disappeared in the water.

Crews called off the search around 2:30 a.m. Sunday due to unsafe water conditions. They returned later Sunday morning and continued searching off and on most of the day.

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