INDIANAPOLIS — Emergency crews have recovered the body of an Indianapolis man who went missing after a canoe capsized in a northwest side retention pond on Thursday evening.
The body of Erik C. Neithers, 54, was located and recovered by search teams Friday at 3:39 p.m. near the area where he was first reported missing.
The incident began yesterday evening in The Willows housing addition. According to Indiana Conservation Officers, Neithers and three of his family members were canoeing on the neighborhood retention pond when their watercraft overturned, throwing all four occupants into the water.
Three of the individuals were successfully rescued from the pond. Emergency medical personnel transported two of the rescued family members to local hospitals for evaluation, and both have since been released. The fourth occupant, Erik C. Neithers, didn’t resurface.
A large-scale search operation was launched immediately following the accident and continued into Friday morning. Specialized recovery teams utilized side-scan sonar, underwater cameras, and scuba divers to systematically search the deep pocket of water.
The multi-agency emergency response and recovery effort included personnel from the Pike Township Fire Department, the Indianapolis Fire Department, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and Indiana Conservation Officers.
The incident remains under investigation by state conservation authorities.
