Missing kayaker discovered dead in Ohio River, identified as 28-year-old

The Clermont County Coroner’s Office has identified the missing kayaker, whose body was discovered in the Ohio River after days of searching.

According to our news colleagues at WCPO-TV in Cincinnati, the dead was Zeidana Malek, 28, of Erlanger, Ky., who went missing following an incident near U.S. Route 52 in New Richmond on Thursday.

Crews arrived to the Ohio River around 4 p.m. Thursday after receiving a report that two kayakers had fallen into the water.

While one person was rescued from the sea unharmed, Malek remained missing.

After several days of searching, the corpse was discovered near mile marker 449.1 along the Ohio River on Sunday about midday.

New Richmond Fire Chief Tim Feldkamp reported that one individual was recovered unharmed following the original incident. On Sunday, New Richmond Fire and EMS announced the body had been recovered.

Andy Chow of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources confirmed that the body belonged to the missing kayaker.

The body was then taken to the Clermont County Coroner’s Office. On Monday, the coroner’s office formally identified Malek.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources continues to examine the circumstances surrounding Malek’s death.