The body of a 10-year-old kayaker who disappeared under the water in Pennsylvania on Saturday was found under a pile of debris Wednesday morning, officials said.
The York County Coroner’s Office identified the child as 10-year-old Matthew Coffroth Jr.
Matthew set out on a kayaking trip on Yellow Breeches Creek with three adults and three other children on Saturday.
Shortly after entering the water, at around 5 p.m., the kayakers ran into heavy debris stirred up by recent storms. All the kayakers made it to shore except Matthew, who was swept underwater and did not resurface.
Some 250 volunteers and first responders spent the following days searching the area, Fairview Township Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Freistat said at a news conference Wednesday.
Matthew’s body was found at 8:36 a.m. in a debris field about a mile downstream from where he entered the water, upstream from the dam at Limekiln Road.
“Our mission was to find the missing 10-year-old,” Freistat said. “Today, I can tell you we have accomplished our mission.”
Heavy machinery was brought in on Tuesday to begin clearing debris from the creek, which had reportedly built up not only from recent storms but from years of storms.
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission communications director Mike Parker said his agency is investigating the boy’s de*ath, which is the 10th boating fatality in the state this year.
Parker said the investigation, which is in its “very preliminary” stages, could take “days, weeks, or even months.”
Although Matthew and his family had previously kayaked and life vests were available, Parker said it was “too early” to say whether the boy was wearing a life vest at the time.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with funeral costs.
