MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office found a body after a search Sunday for a person who reportedly went underwater while fishing in the Mississippi River.
SCSO and other emergency agencies searched the river north of the Meeman-Shelby Forest boat ramp throughout the morning Sunday. The entrance to the ramp was blocked off while crews searched.
The sheriff’s office said a body was found in the river around 1 p.m. near the boat ramp.
The body will be taken to the medical examiner’s office for identification.
Deputies said the man was with a group of friends and was fishing on the sandbar right before he went underwater. It’s still unclear what caused him to go under.
“There’s dangerous currents, and there’s the undertow, and you have sand, dirt and the muck, and the mighty Mississippi is going to come in and can do a lot of damage,” SCSO spokesperson John Morris said.
SCSO said this is the second call of distress on the river in the past week. The sheriff’s office said they responded to a near-drowning Tuesday evening.
“Don’t take chances,” Morris said. “We don’t want this kind of tragedy to happen again.”
Last month, deputies said 15-year-old Prince Stewart drowned while out on the Loosahatchie River with a group of friends.
“Make safety your number-one priority,” Morris said. “If you’re going to be in the water, wear a safety vest. If you’re not a good swimmer, stay out of the water. Just be very, very careful.”
This case is still an active SCSO investigation.
WREG will update this story as we learn more.
