Benny Ernest Bowers Obituary – The Surry County Sheriff’s Office news release confirmed that the body of a father who went missing in the Yadkin River after rescuing his children on Sunday has been discovered.
Around 12:47 p.m. on Sunday, a call was made to Surry County deputies and the Pilot Mountain Rescue Squad regarding a potential water rescue near Siloam, close to the confluence of the Ararat River and the Yadkin River.
According to Major Scott Hudson of the Surry County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began with a family outing that involved swimming in the river. Deputies reported that Benny Ernest Bowers, 44, of Dobson, entered the water to assist his children who were in distress in the river.
Although he successfully saved his children, Bowers did not resurface, as per deputies. Operations were halted on Sunday night due to darkness and safety concerns for the crew and the searching family, Hudson mentioned.
On Monday morning, teams from various agencies, along with friends and family, resumed the search on both the Yadkin and Surry sides. Hudson stated that over five ground crews were deployed, utilizing boats, kayaks, drones, and sonar to aid in the search efforts. At approximately 11:13 a.m., Bowers was located near the confluence of the Ararat River and Yadkin River.
Agencies that provided assistance include the Dobson Rescue Squad, Mount Airy Rescue Squad, Elkin Rescue Squad, Shoals Volunteer Fire Department, Pilot Knob Volunteer Fire Department, Arlington Volunteer Fire Department, Fall Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Yadkin County EMS, Stokes County EMS, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, and the North Carolina Parks Service.
