JACKSON, Wyo. — A week after rescuing a driver who survived driving a truck off of the highway and into the Snake River, Star Valley Search and Rescue (SVS&R) has been mobilized for a tragic incident in the canyon.
According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, recovery efforts are underway to locate the body of a man who is presumed to have drowned in the Snake River Canyon after jumping into the river on July 4 and not resurfacing. Captain Brian Andrews told Buckrail he anticipates recovery efforts will continue on Tuesday and likely the next few days.
Star Valley Independent identified the victim as a North Carolina man who was recreating with a group on Jump Rock east of Sheep Gulch Boat Ramp. The man reportedly jumped into the river without a personal floatation device (PFD) “and began to struggle against the current.” SVS&R Commander Matt McMurdo told the outlet his team was called to the scene around 7 p.m. on Saturday and searched for the man until it was no longer safe to do so, around 9:30 p.m.
Searching continued on Sunday and Monday with the use of drones, rafts, jet boats and jet skis. Andrews noted that rescuers have been traveling up and down the highway in the area to visually search for the victim, too. The U.S. Forest Service is also participating in the search.
“It’s a bad situation for sure,” Andrews told Buckrail Monday afternoon.
Local safety agencies have doubled down on their messaging about the importance of wearing a PFD, including Teton County Search and Rescue and the Snake River Fund.
“People have got to be aware of personal safety devices when out on the river,” Andrews said. “It’s not like swimming in the swimming pool. It’s definitely got rapids and undertows.”
This is a developing story. Buckrail will provide updates as information becomes available.
