Man drowns in James River in Botetourt Co.

By: | WSLS 10
Published: June 16, 2009

Updated 6:15 p.m.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries says 76-year-old Simon Knopp of Staunton drowned.

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3:58 p.m

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries says a body was recovered from the James River in Botetourt County.

Conservation Police Officers tell me a man in his 70s was on a small raft, and was dead by the time rescue crews got to the area. They say he was not wearing a life jacket.

Officers say he was in an inflatable raft which ran into an overturned tree that was in the river. They say because of the strong current and the type of raft he was in, it would have been difficult to avoid hitting it. Three people were with the victim who tried to rescue him.

At this time, crews are not releasing his name until the family has been notified.

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2:48 p.m.

Major Delbert Dudding with the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office says a call came in around 1:15 p.m. from the Glen Wilton area. He said a canoe or raft capsized in the James River, and according to the caller a person was trapped under a log and submerged in the water. One person went about 20 minutes away from the incident to call for help.

The Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries is handling the case.

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2:13 p.m.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is reponding to a possible drowning on the James River.

Conservation Police did not have any more information, and will give us more updates as they get more information.