SILOAM SPRINGS -- Emergency personnel found a drowned teen's body Tuesday evening in the Illinois River at Siloam Springs' new Whitewater Recreation Park.

The victim was a 16-year-old male, according to Holland Hayden, city communications director. She said the family had been notified but said she didn't know the teen's name.

About 8:45 p.m. Hayden confirmed the boy's body had been found. The body was discovered downstream from the kayak park, said Fire Chief Greg Neely.

The park is at 19253 Fisher Ford Road, about 4 miles south of the city on the Illinois River. Personnel from the Siloam Springs Fire Department, Benton County Swift Water Rescue Team and Benton County Dive Team arrived at the park about 4:45 p.m. after being called about a missing boy.

Hayden said the teen had been swimming with friends but she didn't know specifics on how he got in the river or was separated from his friends.

Holland said about 100 people were at the park when the accident occurred.

Brandy Moore was at the park Tuesday when she heard a woman screaming and asking for help. Moore's 16-year-old son, Matt, and five other boys searched the river for the boy for about an hour. The boys were looking near a rope swing and were told the missing boy suffered cramps, went into the water and didn't come up, Brandy Moore said.

Hayden said the park is open to swimmers, kayaks and tubes. She reminded those who use the park isn't a city pool and not staffed by lifeguards. Hayden said she didn't recommend swimming the rapids and encouraged those using the park to use personal flotation devices.

The park includes two engineered rapids, a swimming area with riverside seating, paved walking trail, a boulder for climbing, rain garden, picnic area, changing area and portable toilets. The rapids are class II and III.

There have already been several minor injuries such as twisted ankles and scrapes at the park since it opened but nothing of this scale, Hayden said.

The Benton County Sheriff's Office is investigating the case and the Siloam Springs Fire and Police departments are providing support, Holland said.

A grand opening for the park is set for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. June 28.

NW News on 06/18/2014