On Wednesday morning, July 3rd National Park Service rangers at Chickasaw National Recreation Area (NRA) were continuing the search on Arbuckle Lake for missing swimmer Kelly Knick of Sulphur, Oklahoma, when they located the body of Mr. Knick at approximately 10:10 a.m. Mr. Knick, a 50 year old man had gone missing on June 22nd while swimming off a pontoon boat with his family near the Arbuckle Lake Dam. Due to windy weather conditions, the boat drifted away from the swimmer and he became submerged before he could get back on his boat. Rangers responded by vessel to the location of the missing swimmer within minutes of the report but were also unable to locate him. They began a search at the point last seen. Initial search efforts were hampered by wind gusts at 25mph and rough conditions. The man drowned in approximately 75 feet of water.
Search efforts over the past twelve days included assistance from the Sulphur Fire Department, Murray County Sherriff's Office, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police, and Central Oklahoma Search and Rescue who provided many hours of assistance to National Park Service rangers. Search efforts included utilization of side scanning sonar, diving, dragging, and use of a Search and Rescue K9. Chickasaw NRA Chief Ranger Aaron Shandor reported, "it was an exhaustive search during this recent period of high heat index". Further, he wished to thank all those involved in this collaborative effort to recover the body of Mr. Knick.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
