PHOENIX — Police say two bodies have been recovered from the Salt River and are believed to be those of the two men who fell in the water and went missing on April 9.
Family told ABC15 and police confirmed the body found on Saturday near 19th Avenue was Shane Coates, 38.
On Sunday, Phoenix police said that a second body was found near 71st Avenue. Family told ABC15, which was confirmed by authorities on Monday, that the body is Ryan Jacobs, 38.
Phoenix police say Jacobs and Coates were both reported missing after they left Easter morning to go out on the water and never returned home.
Fire officials say they were called out to a report of two men yelling for help while on a surfboard and boogie board on the Salt River.
When the person who ran to call for help came back, they said they did not see the men anymore.
Officials say they monitored the area along the river for signs of the men. They did not get into the river because of the danger of being in the water in the area.
First responders also reportedly saw life vests in the water, and it's possible they could've been sucked off of the two men because of the current.
“This is a very dangerous situation. A low-head dam like this can present multiple challenges. We have multiple currents going in multiple directions. A lot of debris and air pockets that build underneath the water which actually reduce the buoyancy and effectiveness of the PFD life preserver,” said Capt. Scott Douglas, with Phoenix Fire.
Douglas urges people to not go into the riverbeds, and instead safely enjoy lakes, pools and the part of the river people can float like in Mesa.
“If you’re going to be in pools, lakes, rivers that people want to enjoy, always make sure you’re watching children, you’re not swimming alone and we highly encourage people not to drink alcohol while partaking in water sports due to the fact that that can alter your mental state and cause a bad situation as well,” Douglas said.
Loved ones gathered near the area where a paddle board could be seen caught in the current. They were visibly emotional, telling ABC15 the pair was possibly on that paddleboard.
More than 24 hours later, that paddleboard and even a vest were seen caught in the Salt River current.
Seth Coates says his brother, Shane, is his role model and an exemplary dad.
"I feel like, dead inside," he told ABC15.
Tears rolled down his face as he looked at the paddleboard.
He says he is still unable to process how Shane reportedly went under, adding his brother was experienced in the water.
"It all just seems surreal. Like a bad dream," Seth told ABC15.
Shane’s dad, Carl, was also emotional as he looked at the river.
"Pain…a lot of pain," said Carl.
Carl says his son was a thrill seeker and loved the outdoors.
"The buddy was scared. Shane was all hyped on doing it. So, you know, I don't think they were prepared for this," he said.
Both the Coates family and the Jacobs family have started GoFundMe pages to help cover funeral expenses.
