Body of missing kayaker who slipped away from friend found in North Carolina river
The body of a kayaker who fell into a North Carolina river over the weekend was found Monday.
A Goldsboro Fire Department water rescue team was called to Old Waynesborough Park on Saturday about a missing kayaker on the Neuse River and found a person in the water, according to a Wayne County news release.
The person told responders he and his friend were kayaking to a Wildlife boat ramp when, after about 15 minutes, the friend started to have trouble and fell in the water, the release says.
The person told responders that he tried to rescue his friend, but lost his grip on him.
The friend, 34-year-old Derrick Wooten, then slipped under water, the release says.
Arr-Mac Water Response, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office dive team started a search along with the fire department.
The search was paused at dark Saturday and resumed Sunday, the release says.
Officials said they found Wooten’s body just before noon Monday in the same area where he went missing. His family has been notified, they said.
No other details have been released.
This story was originally published June 7, 2020 at 2:50 PM.
