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Drowning victim found in Current River

MSHP boat1SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — The body of a Missouri man has been found in the Current River, three days after he fell out of his kayak.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says 52-year-old Russ D. O’Neal of Doniphan fell out of his 12-foot kayak while paddling the Current River eight miles south of Doniphan on Thursday.

He held onto his kayak for a long time but became dislodged by exhaustion and debris. The patrol says O’Neal was not wearing a life jacket.

Crews recovered his body from the river Sunday evening.

O’Neal’s death was the 37th drowning in Missouri so far this year, compared to 29 in all of 2014.

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