Local News

UPDATE: Search teams find body of Neuse River kayaker

Two men were kayaking at Old Waynesborough Park on the Neuse River on Saturday when after 15 minutes, one man fell into the water. His friend kayaking with him tried to save him, but he lost his grip on the man, an official statement said.

Posted 2020-06-07T16:19:28+00:00 - Updated 2020-06-08T21:33:26+00:00

Derrick Wooten. , 34, was last seen kayaking with his friend on the Neuse River. Photo from Wayne County officials.

WRAL STAFF

Wayne County authorities said Monday that search teams located the body of 34-year-old Derrick Wooten in the area where he went missing on Saturday.

Wooten fell into the water kayaking with his friend on the Neuse River at Old Waynesborough Park, according to officials.

The friend tried to save Wooten by grabbing onto him while he was struggling in the water. But Wooten's friend said he lost his grip.

The two friends were only on the water for 15 minutes, the statement said.

Officials said the two men planned to kayak to the Wildlife Boat Ramp off of US 117 South near Mar-Mac.

Because of recent rain and thunderstorms, the water is more dangerous than usual.

Richard Adkins: Paddling the Neuse

The Goldsboro Fire Department, Arr-Mac Water Response, NC Wildlife and the Sheriff's Office Dive Team searched the area for Wooten. When it got dark on Saturday, the team stopped searching and resumed Sunday morning, officials said.

Watch the WRAL Documentary: New Trouble on the Neuse River