Correction: There is some corrected information on an apparent drowning this past Saturday on West Lake Okoboji. We had stated that it was some fishermen who recovered the body of 32-year-old Gilman Cooper. As it turns out, the fishermen spotted the body and contacted authorities. The body was actually recovered by the Arnolds Park-Okoboji Fire and Rescue Dive team.
The matter is still under investigation but foul play is not suspected.
We apologize for the error in the earlier report
UPDATE: Arnolds Park, Iowa — We’re learning some additional details into a body that was recovered Saturday morning out of Smith’s Bay of West Lake Okoboji.
27-year-old Gilman Cooper of Omaha was reported missing by his friends after they became separated in the downtown area of Arnolds Park late Friday night or early Saturday.
Authorities were notified around 10:00 am Saturday by some fishermen in Smith’s Bay who reported seeing a body on the bottom of the lake. Officers with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Arnolds Park-Okoboji Fire and Rescue Dive Team were summoned. The fishermen were able to recover the body by the time crews arrived. The victim was identified as Cooper.
It remains unclear as to how Cooper got into the lake. Arnolds Park police say they’re continuing to investigate.
Original story:
Arnolds Park — An investigation is underway after the body of a 27-year-old man was recovered on Saturday from West Lake Okoboji.
The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office says 27-year-old Gilman Cooper of Omaha was reported missing to Arnolds Park Police early Saturday morning after getting separated from his group. Cooper’s body was recovered around 10:00 a.m. by some fishermen in Smith’s Bay.
Authorities say foul play is not suspected.
The Arnolds Park-Okoboji Underwater Rescue and Dive team assisted along with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
(Courtesy fellow Community First Broadcasting station KUOO in Spirit Lake)
