SUMMERS COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A person reported missing after disappearing beneath the water near Brooks Falls on the New River has been recovered following an overnight search and recovery operation, according to Summers County 911.
Emergency crews were dispatched at approximately 4:55 p.m. on Monday, July 6, after a 911 call reported that a swimmer had gone underwater near Brooks Falls and could not be located.
Responding agencies included Station 13 Summers County Volunteer Fire Department, the Summers County Special Operations Team, Summers County Emergency Management, the Summers County Sheriff’s Department, the West Virginia State Police and additional federal and state agencies.
Authorities said crews searched the area using boats, drones and search-and-rescue personnel around the swimmer’s last known location. However, the search was suspended Monday evening after thunderstorms and darkness made conditions unsafe for rescuers.
Search teams returned early Tuesday morning and transitioned the effort into a recovery operation.
According to Summers County 911, members of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources dive team located the missing person at approximately 10:10 a.m. Tuesday near where they were last seen. The individual was brought to shore and turned over to EMS personnel and the West Virginia State Medical Examiner. Family members were present during the recovery.
In addition to the initial responding agencies, the operation included the WV DNR water rescue and dive teams, National Park Service search-and-rescue and law enforcement personnel, and the West Virginia State Police.
Summers County 911 also thanked the Huntington District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for assisting with water level controls at Bluestone Dam during the operation.
Officials also expressed appreciation to Lowell Market, Mike Gore, Sonya Murrell, Susie Farmer and Samantha Cain for providing food and drinks to emergency responders throughout the search and recovery effort.
