Authorities find, identify Kansas drowning victim with help from Johnson County company
Johnson and Miami county emergency personnel have recovered and identified the body of a 65-year-old Spring Hill man who police think drowned after falling from a boat on Hillsdale Lake.
The body of Richard Bangs was found Wednesday very close to where officials think he entered the water, 2,000 feet off shore and 27 feet below water, said Cpt. Matthew Kelly of the Miami County Sheriff’s Office.
Emergency officials were dispatched to the lake around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, after a caller reported that a man had fallen into the water while attempting to tie off and had not resurfaced, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. Kelly confirmed Wednesday that the caller was another occupant in the boat.
The search continued through 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and restarted Wednesday morning.
Dive teams from the Osawatomie Fire Department, Johnson County Fire District No. 2 and the Overland Park Police Department searched the area. The Miami County EMS and Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism assisted in the efforts.
Because of the large number of trees below the surface of the water where Bang’s body was found, Kelly said, emergency personnel were able to locate the body but unable to direct divers so they could reach it.
“It’s like a forest of trees underwater without leaves,” Kelly said. “Because of zero visibility the divers were searching by hand.”
Wednesday morning, Kelly said, officials asked Garmin International to assist with the search. Using special underwater equipment the company was able to confirm the location of Bang’s body and guide divers to it.
The case is being investigated by the Miami County Sheriff’s Office. Foul play is not suspected.
