Watch CBS News

Brother Says Body Found In South Platte Is Tuber Who Went Missing Last Week

DENVER (CBS4) - Underwater rescue crews have recovered the body of a man in the South Platte River.

South Platte River Body
A recovery crew on Sunday (credit: CBS)

The body was discovered in the water up against the river bank near Exposition Avenue and Huron Street in Denver. Witnesses say a man walking by Sunday morning spotted the body under a bridge and called it in to police.

With a raft and rope water rescuers pulled the body from the banks of the river. Joliana Encinias and her father watched the recovery crew from across the river.

"I felt really sad and it made me feel like, 'Don't get by water that's really high,' " Encinias said.

Family members arrived to the sad news from police.

South Platte River Body
(credit: Melissa Garcia)

Just one week ago a 20-year-old tuber went under about 5-miles upstream. A 2-day search for Joe Goodwin turned up nothing. Police haven't confirmed if the missing tuber is the man recovered Sunday but Goodwin's brother, Roger Goodwin, confirmed it on his Facebook page.

"If you haven't yet heard, they found Joey in the Platte today. As difficult as this is and has been, we are very glad he has been found. Thank you all for your prayers and support. We will be making arrangements for a ceremony within the next few weeks, and will keep everyone posted when we figure it out," Roger Goodwins said.

Officials said the recovery proved dangerous.

"The river is moving very, very quickly. It doesn't look like it's moving quickly, but it's moving very quickly," Lt. Mike Pylar with the Denver Fire Department said. "It's in a dangerous position right now, and we want to make sure that we don't have any harm come to any of the rescuers who are on scene."

South Platte River Body
(credit: CBS)

Pylar put out a warning to anyone thinking of going out on the river.

"Pople are getting in these waters without life preservers on, using flotation devices that weren't designed for going tubing or rafting, and when it's going this quick you really need to use your head about it," he said.

Police say the body has been taken to the Denver coroner's office for identification.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.