(700 WLW)- Whitewater Township Fire/EMS crews were dispatched for a water rescue in the Whitewater River in the area of the US 50 Bridge on Sunday, July 30th. On scene reports of a fisherman attempting to walk across the river in the water became submerged and did not resurface. Initial responding crews organized a land based search and rescue while rescue boats assembled at the staging and launch site to respond to the area of last contact with the victim. At approximately 2:30 PM a land based search team spotted an object in the water and rescue boat was sent to the area to investigate and discovered the victim. The victim was found submerged in the water approximately 100 yards down river form the last point of contact above the water. The victim was recovered from the water and taken to the staging and launch point for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Officers and identified as Allen Godshall, 40, from Clifton.
A second fisherman was able to cross the river and make it out of the water. Other agencies assisting included Miami Township Fire Department, Colerain Township Fire/EMS, Springfield Township Fire/EMS, Delhi Township Fire/EMS, Bright Fire/EMS, City of Greendale Fire/EMS, City of Cincinnati Fire and Western Joint Ambulance District. Along with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department specialized resources were requested from the Hamilton County Police Associations Dive Team, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, University of Cincinnati Air Care, Buckeye Search and Rescue, and the Hamilton County Fire Chief’s Association Command Unit. This incident is not connected to the Green Acres Canoe and Kayak business.