OWYHEE COUNTY, Idaho (CBS2) — The search for a missing boater on the Snake River ended in tragedy Monday morning when his body was recovered. According to the Owyhee County Sheriff's Office, a family member ultimately found him.
"It takes one mistake and it costs you everything," said Owyhee County Sheriff Larry Kendrick.
Sunday morning, a husband and wife were out on their boat on the Snake River in Owyhee County. They launched at Bernard Landing, according to deputies.
Authorities say the man jumped in for a swim at about 11 a.m. roughly an eighth of a mile from the launch -- without a life vest on. He was swept away by the current.
"In the river, there's not that much time. You can drown in a matter of 30 seconds. It is fast," Kendrick said.
His wife jumped in to try to save him, also without a life vest, according to deputies.
"She was carried away by the current but she fought and got to the shore," Kendrick said. "She nearly lost her life as well."
She then called for help.
The Owyhee County Sheriff's Office, with the help of Canyon County deputies and ISP, got several boats, drones and a LifeFlight helicopter out to search the river.
"We were searching up and down, up and down just looking into the water. It's tragic because you know you're doing a recovery instead of a rescue," Kendrick said.
This morning, 60-year-old William Ramos of Nampa was found about a quarter of a mile away from where he jumped in.
"It is so deceptive, like for him the current just swiftly took him away and then there's undercurrents that will drag you under. There are weeds which will get tangled up around your legs and pull you under as well because the current is pushing you and they're pulling you," Kendrick said. "It is a very dangerous river."
While the water may look calm, Kendrick says the Snake River is not safe to swim in.
"If we're even on this boat, we're wearing a life jacket," Kendrick said.
It doesn't matter how good of a swimmer you may be, he says always have a life jacket on when you're on the water.
"It'll bring you under," Kendrick said. "The life preserver is there to preserve your life. If you don't use it, your life will not be preserved, and you have to think about your loved ones."
He suggests avoiding the river at night too.
"You could be going along just fine and then hit a rock or a sandbar and then everybody's thrown off the boat. It's just too dangerous," Kendrick said.
If you get swept downstream, he says don't panic.
"You don't want to fight the current, you want to kind of go at an angle to get to shore, and if you get sucked under, you always just want to let it take you because it will spit you back up, and above all never panic. It's easier said than done but panicking is what drowns people," Kendrick said.
He recommends cooling off in local reservoirs, like Lake Lowell or C.J. Strike instead where the waters are safer. Again he recommends always having a life jacket on.
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