Searchers find body of kayaker who died in Current River

The body of a Doniphan kayaker was found Sunday in the Current River, three days after he fell out of his boat and disappeared.

A Missouri State Highway Patrol accident report identifies the paddler as Russ D. O’Neal, 52. According to the report, O’Neal fell out of his 12-foot kayak while paddling the Current River eight miles south of Doniphan.

He held onto his kayak for a long time but became dislodged by exhaustion and debris, according to the patrol report. O’Neal, who was not wearing a life jacket, went under the water and didn’t resurface, according to the patrol.

O’Neal’s death was the 37th drowning in Missouri so far this year, compared to 29 in all of 2014.