Body of Austin Kelley found — missing in Idaho river since Sept. 4

The body of Austin Kelley, the Olympia man who went missing in an Idaho river Sept. 4, has been recovered by friends and family, the Idaho County Sheriff said Monday. Kelley was 26.

Sheriff Doug Giddings said Kelley’s body surfaced in the Salmon River near Riggins, Idaho, about 9:30 a.m. Thursday, while friends and family continued to search for him from the river’s banks.

Kelley’s body appeared about 50 feet from where he went missing.

“The family has closure, but the circumstances are very sad,” Giddings said.

Kelley, an Olympia High School and Saint Martin’s University graduate, had gone to Idaho as part of a guys getaway weekend. He and his friends decided to swim across the river, but Kelley did not make it.

In an email to The Olympian, Kelley’s mother, Cortney, said a celebration of her son’s life is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at the Marcus Pavilion at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey.

This story was originally published September 19, 2016 at 2:07 PM with the headline "Body of Austin Kelley found — missing in Idaho river since Sept. 4."