Jeremy Mauthe Fire Chief at City of St. Charles | LinkedIn
Jeremy Mauthe Fire Chief at City of St. Charles | LinkedIn
The body of a kayaker who went missing in the Fox River on Tuesday evening was recovered early Wednesday morning. According to officials, a civilian called 911 at 5:58 a.m. on July 31 to report seeing a body in the river near the Great Western Trail Bridge. Authorities later confirmed the identity of the deceased as the missing kayaker.
The St. Charles Fire Department has ended its search and recovery operation, while the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police and the Kane County Coroner’s Office continue their investigation into the incident.
The search for the missing kayaker lasted nearly 20 hours over two days and involved significant resources. These included advanced sonar technology, specialized search-and-rescue dogs, dive teams, underwater rovers, and coordinated support from more than two dozen fire departments and multiple government agencies.
“I want to thank the significant number of fire departments, our police and Emergency Management Agency, the Conservation Police, the Kane County Sheriff’s office, the Kane County Office of Emergency Management, and volunteer groups for their ongoing support during this sustained search and recovery effort,” said St. Charles Fire Chief Jeremy Mauthe. “Their expertise, specialized equipment, and dedication were vital to this operation."
“This was a complex operation led by St. Charles Fire Chief Jeremy Mauthe and the St. Charles Fire Department,” said Mayor Clint Hull. “I appreciate their professionalism and the seamless inter-agency cooperation provided by first responder agencies across the region. We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and all who have been affected by this tragic incident.”
Officials urge anyone with information about this incident to contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Law Enforcement at 217-782-6431.
Media inquiries should be directed to Illinois Department of Natural Resources Public Information Officer Jayette Bolinski at 217-785-3953 or jayette.bolinski@illinois.gov.
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