Authorities believe body of missing kayaker has been found

FORT WAYNE, Ind (WANE) – The body of a man believed to be a kayaker missing since Tuesday evening was pulled from the Maumee River Friday morning by members of the New Haven Fire Department.

The body was pulled out just east of the Kreager Park boat ramp, about three miles away from where the search began.

The body matched the description of Sean Hiebel, 24, of Fort Wayne, and a positive identification will be made during an autopsy scheduled for Friday afternoon. Hiebel’s family has been notified.

The Fort Wayne Fire Department initiated the search around 9 p.m. Tuesday when a jogger saw three kayakers go over Hosey Dam, near North Anthony Boulevard. Two of the kayakers were safely rescued. However, Hiebel was not found.

Friends posted flyers in hopes he had managed to survive going over the dam.