COLUMBUS – The sheriff in Knox County says no more organized recovery efforts are planned in the search for a Columbus teen who disappeared while swimming and wading in the Kokosing River Tuesday afternoon.
Crews on Thursday completed a third day of searching the Kokosing River for Darnal Narayan, 15, who disappeared near Honey Run Park, Sheriff David Shaffer said.
The search was a large effort, involving boats, divers, sonar and K9 units but Shaffer says the area where Narayan was last seen contains a very large partially-submerged tree, Shaffer said.
Underwater rock formations, crevices, low visibility and river currents in the area made it a dangerous environment for divers but Shaffer says the crews are “frustrated and disappointed that they have not been able to bring closure to the victim’s family.”
Until further evidence is discovered, Shaffer says search and recovery efforts have been suspended.
Personnel from Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District, Fredericktown Fire Department, Fredericktown Emergency Medical Services, Walhonding Valley Fire District, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Dellroy Community Fire Department, Licking County Sheriff’s Office and Christian Aid Ministries Search and Rescue, have contributed in the search efforts, Shaffer said.