The two day search for a man involved in a boating accident west of Danville ended Thursday afternoon with the recovery of his body. Vermilion County Sheriff’s Captain Michael Hartshorn says 71-year-old Robert Porter Jr. was recovered shortly before 2:30 p.m. The body was found in approximately 30 feet of water in the private pond in the Hillery area.
Sheriff Pat Hartshorn says the search for Porter had been a tedious operation in water as deep as 70 feet. Prior to when the body was found, the Sheriff said divers were working in difficult conditions.
‘’It’s very murky water and there is no visibility for the divers. So they’re basically swimming in patterns – tied off to a rope and swimming in patterns. And they’re basically trying to feel their way through the water,’’ said Hartshorn. ‘’There is a lot of stuff that’s been dumped in this pond over the years, so they’re running into obstacles. Sometimes their ropes at getting hung-up on those obstacles,’’ added Sheriff Hartshorn in comments before Porter’s body was found.
Illinois Department of Conservation Police Officers and the Vermilion County Emergency Management Agency assisted in the search.
Sheriff’s Department Chief Investigator Michael Hartshorn says authorities have learned that the motor in Porter’s small boat had experienced problems Wednesday morning. Porter stood up in an attempt to fix the motor and that’s when the boat capsized. Porter, his fiancée and a 2-year-old child were all ejected from the boat. Porter’s fiancée was able to get herself and the child to safety, but Porter slipped beneath the surface.
An autopsy will be conducted by the Champaign County Coroner’s Office, but authorities say no foul play is suspected.
