LOUISVILLE, Ky. — CLARKSVILLE, Ind. (WHAS11) – A man’s body has been found after he went missing on the Ohio River while trying to rescue a fellow kayaker Saturday night.
Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating the incident that left 28-year-old Travis Hughes dead.
A preliminary investigation has found that Hughes was kayaking with his girlfriend, 31-year-old Jamie Dunaway, and his brother, 30-year-old Mitchell Hughes, all of Pee Wee Valley, shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday near the George Rogers Clark boat ramp in Clarksville.
Dunaway's kayak is said to have capsized after encountering a wave, at which point Travis Hughes attempted to rescue her. His kayak also capsized in the process.
Dunaway successfully swam to a nearby island where she was picked up by a Clarksville Fire Department rescue boat. Mitchell Hughes remained in his kayak and began to search the area for Travis until rescue crews arrived.
Police responded to the boat dock near Harrison Avenue after 10 p.m. At approximately 11:30 p.m., Travis Hughes' body was located near the hydroelectric dam across from the boat ramp.
Conservation officers said none of the kayakers were wearing lifejackets nor had them with them.
The Clark County Coroner's Office will rule on the cause of death.
This story will be updated.
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.