RedactedNarrative: On the 8th of July 2017 sometime after 1 p.m. a group of 11 (10 Kayaks) went out on the Hocking River, putting in at West State Canoe Access in Athens.  Operator and passenger both inside 2016 Kayak continued downstream approximately 400 yards when the group, including the two on board this vessel, approached a waterfall that was flooded.  
  
  Two of the 11 had paddled over the waterfall successfully; the operator and passenger were struggling to row to shore to avoid the waterfall.  Unable to get to shore, the current pulled them over the waterfall.  The front of the kayak struck rocks underneath the water, causing the two to fall out of their kayak. 
  
  Operator grabbed the passenger (son) and began to swim towards the east bank.  Operator struggled and eventually let go of the passenger (who had life jacket on), the operator went under water.  Passenger was pulled to shore by officers that were on the bank.  Operator did not surface and a search was conducted.   Of the 11 that went o the water 10 were recovered/made it to shore uninjured along with all their equipment.  A search was conducted over the course of the next 3 days.  Operator was found by hospital staff 1100 yards downstream around 7 a. m. on the 11th day of July.  Operator was identified as such and pronounced dead and taken to Miami Valley Crime Lab for autopsy.
  