JAMES CITY Co., Va. - The body of a boater who went missing after his canoe overturned Sunday afternoon has been recovered, James City County Police announced Tuesday.
Police and fire officials say they were called to the Little Creek Reservoir area around 3:25 p.m. Sunday for a report of an overturned canoe.
Three men were out in a canoe fishing when the vessel overturned, according to officials.
A 19-year-old male was able to swim to shore and was taken Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. A second man was also able to swim to shore and was uninjured, according to police.
Officials say the third boater, 22-year-old Tionni G. Johnson of Lanexa, Virginia, remained unaccounted for.
A search and rescue operation commenced with help from the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, VCU LifeEvac and Newport News Waterworks; however, Johnson was not found.
The recovery mission was suspended on Monday due to inclement weather and resumed at 8 a.m. Tuesday with help from the James City County Fire Department and Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Around 3:10 p.m. Tuesday, authorities recovered Johnson’s body in the area where the canoe originally overturned. The location was approximately 100’ offshore and in water approximately 26’ deep.
The canoe has been recovered.
