The body of a 21 year old University of Montana student who drowned in the Kootenai River in Northwest Montana has been recovered. Lincoln County Sheriff's Lieutenant Robbie Bowe says a fisherman spotted Samuel Sylvester's body on Saturday around noon near Troy.
Sylvester jumped off a rock outcropping south of Troy and into the churning river on July 25th. Witnesses said they saw him floating briefly and go around a bend, but then didn't see him again.
Investigators later clarified that the group wasn't video taping the jump, although some photographs were being taken when the accident happened.
Bowe says Sylvester's family from Massachusetts and friends worked hard all last week helping Lincoln County Search and Rescue looking for him along that rugged stretch of the river.
Dennis Bragg reporting from KPAX in Missoula
(July 29, 2008)
The search for a missing 21 year old University of Montana student continues after he jumped into the Kootenai River last Friday.
Authorities say Samuel Sylvester of Massachusetts jumped off a rock outcropping about six miles south of Troy on July 25. Witnesses said they saw him floating and go around a bend, but then didn't see him again.
Lieutenant Robbie Bowe said Lincoln County officials were searching the river to the Idaho border, although their efforts will be gradually scaled back over the next several days.
Sylvester's family and friends continue to look for him.
(From July 29, 2008)
Lincoln County Search and Rescue is still looking for the body of a Massachusetts man believed to have drowned last Friday.
Samuel Sylvester, 21, jumped off a rock cropping by the swinging bridge near Troy Friday afternoon.
Witnesses say they saw him floating and go around a bend, but then didn't see him again. Search and Rescue and a Forest Service Helicopter worked to find Sylvester.
Detective Jim Sweet said Sylvester was vacationing with friends in Montana, and they were making a self made adventure video, and were filming when he jumped into the water.
The swinging bridge is about six miles south of Troy and Lincoln county Search and Rescue has not said when they will stop their recovery efforts.
Detective Sweet said this marks the third death at that area in about the past 12 years.
