13 Year Old Oregon Boy’s Body Recovered from Snake River

ONTARIO, Ore (KTVB)-- The body of a 13-year-old boy that drowned in the Snake River near Ontario has been recovered, according to Malheur County Sheriff Brian Wolfe. KTVB reports The boy was fishing in the river Sunday evening with two friends near Ontario State Park.

Undersheriff Travis Johnson tells KTVB News he drowned after the the trio walked out across a railroad bridge and onto a nearby rock pile in the river. That's when the boy slipped and fell in. Johnson said the boy's friends watched him struggle and go underwater, but couldn't help him. Johnson said The victim was not a strong swimmer adding that the boy was fully dressed with shoes on. Malheur County Sheriff's deputies searched for the boy with a boat and underwater camera.

His body was found just after noon on Tuesday near where he went in the water. They say the unpredictable and sometimes swift current and undertows, as well as the rapidly changing water depth are hard to navigate.