MIAMI COUNTY, Kan. – Authorities have recovered the body of a man who went missing at an area lake over the weekend, after his two young children were found alone in a boat.
Shortly after 6:30 p.m. on Sunday evening, search and recovery teams discovered the man’s body in the water using side-scan sonar technology. Authorities said the man was found about 20 feet below the surface. Overall the search lasted approximately 27 hours.
Around 4 p.m. on Saturday, authorities confirmed a water rescue was underway at Hillsdale Lake is Miami County. It was later changed to a recovery mission, after authorities determined at that time the man had possibly drowned.
A witness boater told authorities they saw two young children, a boy and a girl, alone in another boat. Authorities say they believe the father of the two children went overboard and drowned, but as of Saturday had not yet recovered the man’s body.
“Units were advised that a boat was found with two children in it upset. A bystander was able to make contact with the children who stated that one adult male was in the water,” said Rodger Larison of the Johnson County Fire District 2.
Circumstances surrounding the possible drowning are still unknown at this time.
“The male got into the water, but the circumstances of why, we don’t know. It’s nothing that we’re going to talk to children about,” said Larison.
The two children and their parents are believed to be from the Leawood area and were at the lake for recreational reasons.
The Johnson County Fire Districts 1 and 2, Miami County EMS, Miami County Water Rescue, Miami County Sheriff’s Office, Overland Park Police Department Dive Team, Kansas Wildlife Parks, and U.S. Corp of Engineers were all assisting with the search.
Search teams used side sonar scanning to narrow down the search area. They also spoke with the fisherman who initially found the young children alone in the boat.
Authorities are not releasing the victim’s name at this time.
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