Search and Rescue Crews Still Searching for Body of Missing Boater in Salmon River

CHALLIS - On May 24, the Custer County Sheriff’s Office in Challis, Idaho, received the report of a boating accident on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. The accident had taken place that afternoon and was reported by the family of the accident victim.

According to a report from the Sheriff's Office, 63-year-old Robert Gray, of Mill Creek, Washington, was floating the Middle Fork near Boundary Creek when his raft struck a log jam, throwing him into the water. The water at that time was running about 5 feet high and flowing at a temperature of 40 degrees. Robert Gray, tired and cold, could not self-rescue and was carried away by the swift current.

The next day, the Custer County Search & Rescue located the body matching Gray's description by helicopter. The body was located submerged in a log jam below Boundary Creek.

Recovery Efforts:

The family of missing deceased whitewater rafter, Robert Gray, who passed away May 24 on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, is seeking the public’s help in recovering his body. Robert was last spotted on a logjam about half a mile down from Boundary Creek. The Sheriff's Office could not recover the body due to the rising runoff water and swift currents, which make the recovery dangerous for personnel.

Per aerial footage on June 2nd, it is believed his body is no longer in that original logjam but has moved down river. Given the high and swift waters, Robert’s body could be anywhere at this point. His family is soliciting the public’s help in finding him. They are asking for you to please be on alert and to report any sightings anywhere from the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, to the Salmon, Snake and Columbia Rivers. Robert was last seen wearing a red life jacket, a white helmet, and a black wetsuit. Please contact your local authorities and/or forest service rangers with any sighting information.