Body of father who went missing in Yadkin River after rescuing children has been found, Surry County deputies say

PILOT MOUNTAIN, N.C. (WGHP) — The body of a father who went missing in the Yadkin Rive r after rescuing his children on Sunday has been found, according to a Surry County Sheriff’s Office news release.

At around 12:47 p.m. on Sunday, Surry County deputies and the Pilot Moutain Rescue Squad received a call about a possible water rescue in the area of Siloam near the juncture of the Aratat River and the Yadkin River.

According to Major Scott Hudson of the Surry County Sheriff’s Office, the incident started with a family outing during which people were swimming in the river.

Deputies said that Benny Ernest Bowers, 44, of Dobson, went into the water to help his children who were struggling in the river.

He was able to rescue his children, but he did not resurface, deputies say.

Crews had to suspend operations on Sunday night “due to darkness as well as the safety of all the crew and the family that was out searching,” Hudson said.

On Monday morning, crews from multiple agencies, as well as friends and family members, returned to continue searching on the Yadkin and Surry sides. Hudson says more than five ground crews were deployed, and the teams used boats, kayaks, drones and sonar to aid in the search.

Around 11:13 a.m., Bowers was found near the juncture of the Ararat River and Yadkin River.

Assisting agencies include the Dobson Rescue Squad, Mount Airy Rescue Squad, Elkin Rescue Squad, Shoals Volunteer Fire Department, Pilot Knob Volunteer Fire Department, Arlington Volunteer Fire Department, Fall Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Yadkin County EMS, Stokes County EMS, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the North Carolina Parks Service.

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