The body of a missing kayaker who was swept over the White’s Mill waterfall on Saturday was found Tuesday morning after a nearly three-day search.
The man was identified as Steve Lippson, 40, of Racine, Ohio, according to a July 9 release. The body was found 200 yards downstream by an OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital employee at about 6:40 a.m., according to a July 11 release form the Athens County Emergency Management Agency. It was recovered at 7:30 a.m. by the Athens Fire Department, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Athens Police Department and the Athens County Coroner’s Office.
On Saturday, six kayakers were swept over the White's Mill waterfall, according to the Athens Fire Department.
Emergency responders found 12 kayakers had been in the Hocking River, six of whom were later swept over the falls. All the kayakers except Lippson were either rescued by emergency responders or able to escape from the water on their own when they were swept over.
“The incident is still under investigation,” Stephanie Leis, a spokeswoman for ODNR, said in an email. “The cause of death is pending an autopsy by the coroner.”
