Publisher’s note: The body of Leo Wescombe, 29, of Australia has yet to be recovered form the Cosumnes River after the kayaker disappeared in rapids on Sunday.

By Bill Lindelof, Sacramento Bee

A 19-year-old Mount Aukum man drowned Tuesday in the rapids of the Cosumnes River, officials said Wednesday.

El Dorado County sheriff’s deputies said that John Fagan Jr. was swimming in a large pool in the middle fork of the Cosumnes River when he was swept downstream through a series of rapids.

Witnesses lost sight of him for several minutes until his body was spotted 200 yards downstream, floating face down, according to a news release.

Read the whole story