CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The body of a missing swimmer in Kanawha County was recovered Tuesday morning.
The body was discovered by Division of Natural Resources personnel around 11:30 a.m. in Charleston near the Daniel Boone Boat Ramp. Later in the day, Charleston police confirmed the body was that of Christopher Thomas, 29, of Charleston.
Thomas went underwater during an outing with family and friends near the mouth of Campbell’s Creek, about a mile upstream from where his body was found.
Thomas’ girlfriend said he was trying to aid her and her 12-year old cousin. The child couldn’t swim and while wading in shallow water stepped off a dropoff into a deep pool. After the child panicked, Thomas came to their rescue. He helped them back to the shallow water, but fell into the dropoff himself and couldn’t get out.