By Courtney D. Clark
Register-Herald Reporter
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Search crews have located and are in the process of recovering the body of a Kanawha County firefighter, who was swept into floodwaters March 13 during a swift water rescue mission.
The body of 32-year-old Donald Adkins was located just before 12:50 p.m. Friday, according to Reed Cook, Deputy State Fire Marshal.
“One of the search crews discovered the body of the missing firefighter approximately four to five miles from where he went in last Saturday,” Cook said Friday.
“It has been confirmed, so at the present time, we’re in the recovery phase of the body.”
Crews are working through debris and rough terrain, Cook says, but teams are pulling together to expedite recovery.
“They’re going to have to get him from where he’s at, across the river, to a high-rail vehicle,” explained Cook.
“It’s pretty rough, so it might be an hour, might be two hours, might be longer.”
Larry Rice, chief of the Beaver Volunteer Fire Department says it is sad day for the fire service and EMS field, but they are thankful for the support received from at least seven West Virginia counties.
“I just want to thank everybody that’s been out here for everything they’ve done,” said Rice. “I appreciate all of these departments that have come in and helped us.
“It’s a great loss,” he added. “I’m just glad we found him and brought him home.”
— E-mail: cclark@registerherald.com
