UPDATE: The man who drowned while rescuing a young boy struggling in the St. Joseph River, Friday, has been identified. The body of Matthew Kihlstrand, 45, of Baroda was discovered on Sunday, two days after he went missing in the water a mile down from the Jasper Dairy boat launch. Kilhstrand was with four others on a pontoon, swimming at the time.

ORIGINAL STORY: The body of an apparent drowning victim who went under in the St. Joseph River in Berrien County on Friday, June 19, has been located.

Police received a 911 call about an individual in distress and missing in the water approximately one mile downriver from the Jasper Dairy boat launch around 7:15 p.m. on Friday.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, the State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Royalton Township Fire Department, and the Berrien Springs Oronoko Township Fire Department sent personnel and/or boats to search the river for the individual.

The initial investigation reveals that two adults and three juveniles were enjoying a summer day on a pontoon boat and were swimming in the water, when one of the juveniles began to struggle in the water. One of the adults jumped into the water and
rescued the juvenile, however the adult, a 45-year-old Berrien County man, went underwater.

On Sunday, June 21, the body believed to be that of the victim as located about one-half mile down from where the person went missing. An autopsy will be performed at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine.