Body of missing Palouse Falls swimmer located Sunday

The body of a man who drowned while swimming at Palouse Falls on April 21 was located Sunday afternoon.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said 23-year-old Issac Engell was located by kayakers several miles down river from the falls in the area of Lyons Ferry State Park, where the confluence of the Palouse and Snake rivers.

The Franklin County coroner positively identified the swimmer as Engell, who was previously identified by friends and family members. Engell died from asphyxiation by drowning, Coroner Dan Blasdel said. The manner of death was ruled accidental.

Engell was reported missing after a group of friends said he failed to resurface while swimming under the waterfall. Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies searched for Engell for several hours, but stopped when it was decided the current from the waterfall was unsafe to continue.

As a result, Washington State Parks officials closed the park on April 22 to allow the body to resurface naturally.

A spokesperson said the park would reopen Thursday.