A group of kayakers found the body of 19 year old Jason Howard this morning in the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County. Howard was last seen alive Wednesday night by his friends, who say he was trying to swim across the river when he went under.
CBS 21 spoke with the kayakers who found him. They had also been out searching for Jason since Wednesday night, looking in areas where boats couldn't go. And this morning just after 8:00, they found his body.
Chiques Rock Outfitters employees have been doing a different kind of job out here on the river. Since Wednesday night, they worked to help find 19 year old Jason Howard, who went missing when he tried to swim across the river, in East Donegal Township.
James Cox, helped in search:
"We had just come through there and saw them out there swimming on the banks and what not."
Wednesday night turned into Thursday morning and no sign of Jason. Thursday and Friday the search resumed, as the kayakers helped look through sections of the river where boats couldn't go, but still no sign of the teen.
Derek Gerold, found Jason's body:
"This section of the river is very shallow and hard to access. We use kayaks and get around it pretty good, so we knew that it may be upon us that we need to do something."
They vowed to start their search again this morning. After 8:00am, they finally found his body. The coronoer says the kayakers found him in a shallow rocky area of the Susquehanna River, about 200 yards North of the Route 30 Bridge. His body was found southeast from where he'd gone missing.
Matt Samms, found Jason's body:
"It was nice for us to be able to do our part, ya know? We feel obligated to help out any time there's a situation. It's a human thing."
Tonight at a vigil near the Marietta Boat Launch, Jason's mother joins many others in saying goodbye. She's very thankful for those kayakers, who found her son's body and gave her some closure.
Joy Tomlinson, Jason Howard's mother:
"I really appreciate all the help. I mean we wanted him found sooner but I think he didn't want to be found until his sister came home. She was out of the county."
Jason's body is at the Lancaster County morgue where an autopsy will be done.
CBS 21 spoke with the kayakers who found him. They had also been out searching for Jason since Wednesday night, looking in areas where boats couldn't go. And this morning just after 8:00, they found his body.
Chiques Rock Outfitters employees have been doing a different kind of job out here on the river. Since Wednesday night, they worked to help find 19 year old Jason Howard, who went missing when he tried to swim across the river, in East Donegal Township.
James Cox, helped in search:
"We had just come through there and saw them out there swimming on the banks and what not."
Wednesday night turned into Thursday morning and no sign of Jason. Thursday and Friday the search resumed, as the kayakers helped look through sections of the river where boats couldn't go, but still no sign of the teen.
Derek Gerold, found Jason's body:
"This section of the river is very shallow and hard to access. We use kayaks and get around it pretty good, so we knew that it may be upon us that we need to do something."
They vowed to start their search again this morning. After 8:00am, they finally found his body. The coronoer says the kayakers found him in a shallow rocky area of the Susquehanna River, about 200 yards North of the Route 30 Bridge. His body was found southeast from where he'd gone missing.
Matt Samms, found Jason's body:
"It was nice for us to be able to do our part, ya know? We feel obligated to help out any time there's a situation. It's a human thing."
Tonight at a vigil near the Marietta Boat Launch, Jason's mother joins many others in saying goodbye. She's very thankful for those kayakers, who found her son's body and gave her some closure.
Joy Tomlinson, Jason Howard's mother:
"I really appreciate all the help. I mean we wanted him found sooner but I think he didn't want to be found until his sister came home. She was out of the county."
Jason's body is at the Lancaster County morgue where an autopsy will be done.