On March 5th 2023, at approximately 1907 hours, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Dispatch center received a call regarding a 70 year old kayaker who had failed to arrive at his planned destination along the Cuyahoga River. The kayaker's brother alerted Brecksville Police that the kayaker was four hours overdue and that he was concerned. A search involving the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Service, Akron Police, area fire department's, and the Summit County Metro Parks was conducted along the Cuyahoga River between the original launching point at the Cascade Valley Metro Park in Akron. 

On March 6th 2023, at approximately 1243 hours, a Summit County Metro Parks UAV operator spotted a kayak along the bank of the Cuyahoga River between Ira and Steels Corners Road caught in a strainer. Upon further investigation with the UAV, the missing kayaker was found deceased in the strainer with the kayak. He was removed from the river and pronounced dead at approximately 1540 hours. The victim was wearing a PFD at the time of his recovery.

Cuyahoga River
Akron                         