Missing Kayaker’s Body Recovered from Fox River, Reports St. Charles Fire Department

ST. CHARLES, Ill. (WLS) — A body of a missing kayaker was recovered in the Fox River Thursday morning, the St. Charles Fire Department said.

The fire department reported that a 911 call was received at 5:58 a.m. regarding a body found in the river close to the Great Western Trail Bridge. The deceased has been confirmed as the kayaker who went missing.

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It was around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday when the St. Charles Fire Department said they got a call about a person in the Fox River near Ferson Creek.

Investigators believe two people were on kayaks fishing at night when one kayaker fell into the water.

Officials believe another boat was also involved in the incident, but it’s not clear how.

Daeshawn Eubanks shared with ABC7 that he and his best friend, whom he believes to be the missing individual, frequently kayaked on the Fox River. The accident occurred on Tuesday night when another boat allegedly sped by without lights, causing his friend to fall into the water, after which he disappeared.

“Devastating,” Eubanks said. “That was my best friend of over 10 years.”

Officials also said it appears the missing kayaker was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.

Eubanks claims he and his friend were wearing life vests despite investigators saying the missing kayaker did not have on one.

Fire officials said they were also able to get in contact with the operator of the boat, and that is part of their investigation.

“The assumption is that either a wake, or potentially the boat. But the boat was involved. We don’t know exactly what happened,” Mauthe said.

“You have to do better,” Eubanks said. “That’s completely unsafe, dangerous for anyone in the water.”