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Matthew Coffroth Jr.'s body was found shortly after 7:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14, according to the York County Coroner's office.
"He had been kayaking with family and friends on the creek when he fell out of his kayak and went under the water, never resurfacing," as stated in the coroner's release. His body was found four days after he went missing approximately one mile from where he was last seen.
Matthew, a Lancaster resident, became separated from his kayak and went under the water in area of the 1000 block of Limekiln Road around 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, according to the fire department's initial release.
"This operation is now being treated as a recovery mission due to the amount of time since the victim was last seen," according to the release on Monday afternoon. "Personnel on scene are utilizing boats, drones, K-9 units and other resources to assist with this operation."
Over 250 people from multiple emergency services from York, Cumberland, Dauphin, Adams, and Lancaster Counties are part of the mission.
The Fairview Township Fire Department, Fairview Township Police Department, and the PA Fish and Boat Commission are the agencies managing this incident.
The cause of death was drowning and the manner of death was accidental, according to the coroner. He was not wearing a lifejacket when he was found in debris from Tropical Storm Debby, according to the PA Fish and Boat Commission, but it is unclear if he was wearing one when fell out of his kayak. The commission investigation is ongoing.
A GoFundMe has been launched to help his family; within the first 48 hours it raised over $20,000. Click here to donate.
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