NEW RICHMOND, Ohio — Recovery crews have resumed their search for a missing kayaker who reportedly fell into the Ohio River Thursday.
Dispatchers said they received a call at around 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon that two kayakers fell into the Ohio River near U.S. Route 52 in New Richmond. New Richmond Fire Chief Tim Feldkamp said one person was pulled from the water and was uninjured, but one person had not been located.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which is now in control of search operations, told us there were three kayakers on the river; two got out of the water safely, while one is still missing. We have asked for clarification on the number of people involved, but have not yet heard back.
Monroe Township, Bethel Tate, Pierce Township, Anderson Township and Boone County Water Rescue crews also responded to the scene.
Monroe Township Assistant Fire Chief Michael Welch told us Thursday night that the search was largely being conducted two miles upriver from New Richmond. Around 10:45 p.m., officials said the search would be suspended for the night, after over six hours of searching.
WATCH: Crews continue their recovery search Friday
Crews focused their attention in the Ohio River near the end of Clermont Laurel Road in Monroe Township on Friday.
"It was a tandem kayak, meaning that two people are going to be in one kayak at the same time," Michael Sterwerf, district captain with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, said Friday. "As far as I know, life jackets were on the vessel. How that person became in the water is still, it's under investigation right now."
Sterwerf said that water temperature plays a key role in determining when a search transitions from rescue to recovery.
"At a certain point when you're under the water and it's warm water, you pretty much there's not much that you can do," Sterwerf explained. "It's more of a recovery than when you have a cold water event and they're down temporarily."
Much of Friday's mission focused on gathering underwater photos of the riverbed.
"What we're looking for is to get an image back so that we can have what we call a target of interest for the dive crews to go look," Sterwerf said.
Sterwerf said recovery missions like this one can be difficult and dangerous for dive crews if not conducted carefully.
"We used to have a restaurant here, and a lot of times what happens is that since the docks, the trees will back up against it, some will move on, some will sink to the bottom," Sterwerf said. "You want to be safe when you put the divers down so they don't become caught on that. And then you have to send a rescue, another rescue diver to go down and get them."
Sterwerf said after Friday, recovery efforts will be planned on a day-by-day basis.
