POND EDDY, NY — The body of 22-year-old Ukonne Uyobong was found on May 30 some five miles downriver from where he was last seen five days earlier.

The body was found by two fishermen in Pond Eddy.

Uyobong, who was born in Nigeria, was on a raft and reportedly removed his life jacket before jumping into the river. The two friends he was with said he did not know how to swim.

Rangers from the National Park Service started to search for Uyobong almost immediately, but he could not be found. Divers resumed the search for more than eight hours on May 26 and again on May 27.

NPS urges all people who use the river to wear a life jacket; there never has been a drowning victim who was wearing a properly fitted and fastened life jacket.