BREAKING: Authorities Search for Missing Kayaker in Northeast Iowa
Authorities in northeast Iowa are searching for a missing kayaker.
About 12:15 pm Sunday (05.19), the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) received a report of a missing 39-year-old male kayaker and began investigating immediately. Initial reports are that the kayaker was alone and had launched onto the Upper Iowa River around 2 pm on Saturday (05.18).
His last known location was on the river near the Freeport area at around 6 pm, Saturday. A short time after the investigation was initiated, the capsized kayak was located in the middle of the Upper Iowa River just below the Upper Dam. Several other items belonging to the kayaker were also located in the river below the Upper Dam.
The Decorah Fire Department and WCSO conducted an extensive search of the river from Freeport to the Lower Dam. This search included a jet boat, sonar, and drone technology.
The kayaker has not been located and search and recovery efforts are continuing with assistance that also includes Winneshiek County Emergency Management and the Iowa DNR.
If anyone has any information regarding this situation, please call the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office.
