Indiana State Police have located the body of an 18-year-old football player who jumped into a river with friends during a flooding event in Indiana.
Matthew Morley was the last person unaccounted for after he and his friends leaped into the Mississinewa River close to Muncie on Wednesday. Rescue operations were hampered by severe flooding, delaying the recovery of his body until the weekend.
“No words can alleviate the agony of losing a child,” the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office conveyed in a statement.
Authorities extended their sympathies, stating, “Our hearts are with Matthew’s family, friends, classmates, and all who knew and cherished him.”
Details about why Morley and the three others jumped into the turbulent waters amid flooding remain unclear.
His mother, Angie Morley, clung to hope right up until her son was found, despite continuous flooding that complicated search efforts.
The day prior to the discovery, she shared tearfully with NBC News, “He’s in distress and needs help. That’s why we’re not there, and we can’t get there.”
Morley had graduated from Delta High School and was set to attend Purdue University this fall.
Tragically, he was one of at least six individuals to lose their lives in the recent floods affecting Indiana, while rescue operations continued throughout the weekend.
In addition to Morley, a 4-year-old boy died after a tree collapsed onto his home, and a woman was also swept away after her car was caught in the floodwaters.
More than a dozen counties have declared disaster emergencies, with significant damage occurring around Hamilton County, which is north of Indianapolis.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett described the flooding as the worst the city has faced in over three decades, leading to the evacuation of hundreds of homes.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that President Trump had approved a state of emergency declaration for Indiana, allowing for federal disaster assistance to affected areas.
