HARRISON, Ohio -- Search crews recovered a man’s body from the Whitewater River Sunday afternoon, according to Whitewater Township Fire Chief Scott Schorsch.
Crews found the body of 40-year-old Allan Godshall, of Clifton, at about 2:30 p.m., just north of where the Whitewater River meets the Great Miami River, according to sheriff's office spokesperson Mike Robison.
Schorsch said crews began looking for Godshall at about 1 p.m. Sunday near the U.S. 50 bridge.
Godshall was fishing from the riverbank with another man, and he went underwater when they tried to cross the river, Schorsch said. The other fisherman was able to get out of the water.
Schorsch said Godshall went missing in a remote location that was not accessible by boat. Crews had to go to Green Acres Canoe and Kayak Rental and float downstream in order to search for him.
Godshall was in no way related to the canoe rental company; the company had offered their property to crews as they searched, officials said.
The water was moving “a little faster than normal” Sunday afternoon, Schorsch said.
“Anytime when you’re dealing with current and you’re walking through a river, you don’t know what’s underneath the surface of the water -- holes, obstacles you can trip on, get hung up on,” he said.
The other fisherman is OK, Schorsch said.
“He’s in shock still," he said. "Medically from what I understand he is OK, just in shock from what happened.”
Schorsch said anyone who wants to go near moving water should be safe and use flotation devices.
“Unfortunately people think it’s never going to happen, they can swim. When you’re dealing with moving water, especially when you’re in a river, the current can take you under and you can get hung up on a ... tree, log, anything like that can hold you underwater," he said.
Several agencies assisted with the search, including Miami Township, Springfield Township, Colerain Township, Brighton Indiana, Greendale Indiana, Delhi Township, Cincinnati PD, Delhi Township, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Hamilton County Police Association Dive Team and University Aircare.
