Recovery efforts continue for man missing on Yadkin River

Authorities are back on the scene today at the juncture of the Yadkin and Ararat rivers near Siloam, searching for a man who slipped under the water and never resurfaced after saving struggling relatives.

According to Surry County Sheriff's Office Major Scott Hudson, the man went into the river around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday to rescue several family members who were struggling in the water. He managed to get them to safety before slipping under the water himself, without resurfacing.

Authorities from a number of area law enforcement and emergency services organizations were on hand through the afternoon and into the evening on Sunday trying to find the man, but were not successful.

"Operations were suspended last night due to darkness and safety for all searching personnel," Hudson said this morning.

He said his office, along with Surry County Emergency Services and Pilot Mountain Rescue Squad received the call at 12:47 p.m..

“When first responders arrived on the scene, they were informed that an adult male, age 44, was attempting to help some family members struggling in the river. The adult male was able to help the family members struggling, but he never re-surfaced,” Hudson said in his statement.

He declined to identify the man, saying that was all the information he said his department would release on Sunday. Monday, he still did not identify the missing man.

Hudson said first responders on the scene Sunday requested additional assistance from 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 Emergency Services, Yadkin County Sheriff’s Office, Stokes County Emergency Services, North Carolina Wildlife, and the North Carolina Parks Service.

“This event is tragic for all involved especially for the family,” he said. While authorities were hoping the operation would be a search and rescue, by late Sunday they were calling it a "search and recover."

On Monday, Hudson said the Surry County Sheriff’s Office, Surry County Emergency Services, Surry County Communications, Surry County Emergency Management, Pilot Mountain Rescue Squad, and the Dobson Rescue Squad had returned to the scene, searching for the body. He declined to release additional information.