Body found of 5-year-old swept away by river on family trip, CA searchers say

A 5-year-old boy who went missing along a Northern California river days ago has been found dead, sheriff’s officials reported.

The child was last seen while at the Klamath River in the Seiad Valley area with his family on the afternoon of Thursday, May 1, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office said in a May 4 news release.

Someone later reported seeing a person floating downstream, sheriff’s officials said.

A helicopter, dive team and swift water rescue team from several agencies conducted searches for the boy, along with volunteers, officials said.

“The disappearance of this child has been absolutely heartbreaking to everyone involved in this search operation,” the sheriff’s office said in the release.

The boy’s body was found about 4.6 miles downriver from where he was last seen, officials said in a Monday, May 5, news release.

He was found about a third of a mile south of Seattle Creek, deputies said.

“The impact of this loss is felt by all those who participated in the search, and we join those grieving this unimaginable tragedy,” deputies said in the release.

Sheriff’s officials ask anyone with information to call 530-841-2900.

Siskiyou County is about a 250-mile drive north from Sacramento.

This story was originally published May 5, 2025 at 9:16 AM with the headline "Body found of 5-year-old swept away by river on family trip, CA searchers say."