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Student's body recovered from Okla. lake

Posted on 08/23/2007, 11:58
By TIM TALLEY Associated Press Writer

Rescue and recovery workers search the shoreline at Lake Overholser in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007, near the area where a high school cross-country runner vanished Wednesday after trying to cross a flooded trail. (AP Photo)

Divers Recover Body of Missing High School Runner Swept Into Okla. Lake

The body of a high school cross-country runner was recovered from a muddy, rain-swollen lake Thursday, one day after he was swept away while trying to cross a flooded trail.

Divers using sonar equipment recovered the body of 17-year-old Phillip Jones from a cove in Lake Overholser layered with logs, sticks and other debris, said Deputy Fire Chief Tony Young.

"He was found approximately 150 feet from the roadway we were working off of and probably about 30 yards from the dam," said Maj. Brian Stanaland, a spokesman for the fire department. "They found him down below in about 20 feet of water."

Jones disappeared on Wednesday when he and other members of the Putnam City West High School track team were on one of their regular runs and found a trail around the lake under water waist-deep, authorities said.

They tried to swim to the other side, but the current dragged them into deeper water and Jones was not able to make it out, District Fire Chief Chris Fields said. Two other boys managed to get out of the lake.

Divers searched the lake for more than 24 hours before locating Jones' body. As many as 10 divers participated in the search and battled poor visibility as well as strong currents and debris, officials said.

Members of the missing boy's family visited the recovery site Thursday and later met with a fire department chaplain and school administrators.

"It was a heartbreaking meeting," said Steve Lindley, communications director for the Putnam City school district.

City crews had opened the gates of the lake's dam after heavy rains fell over the weekend and the water was flowing rapidly.

Two blocks away, at Jones' high school, students huddled in the gymnasium and talked with counselors.

"In that room there were a lot of sobs," Lindley said. "It's a real day of sorrow here. There are a lot of tears, a lot of hugs."

NOTE: Due to this being a swift water search. Pathfinder members only searched the shoreline areas.

Other images:

A firefighter stands with family and friends gathered on a walkway near the edge of Lake Overholser in Oklahoma City on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007, as rescue and recovery workers search near the area where a high school cross-country runner vanished Wednesday after trying to cross a flooded trail. (AP Photo)

Family and friends stand in the shade at rear as a search and rescue dog waits at foreground at Lake Overholser in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007, as rescue and recovery workers search near the area where a high school cross-country runner vanished Wednesday after trying to cross a flooded trail. (AP Photo)

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