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Body found in Smith River, believed to be Joseph Sink

(Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

HENRY COUNTY (WSLS10) - According to Henry County Public Safety officials, a body was found in the Smith River Saturday morning in Henry County.

According to Matt Tatum Director of Henry County Department of Public Safety, the body was discovered in the Eggleston Falls area of the Smith River.

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This comes after weeks long search for a missing Henry County man who went missing after his canoe capsized in the same area.

The Martinsville/Henry County 911 Center got a call at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 6 about a boating accident on the lower section of the Smith River below the Martinsville Hydroelectric Dam. Tatum said two men were on the canoe when it capsized, but only one made it to shore. Neither were wearing life jackets.

30-year-old Joseph Sink of Martinsville was never found. Crews searched by both air, water and land for Sink, but only recovered boots and their canoe.

The second canoe passenger, a 27-year-old man, made it to the bank of the river and was able to make contact with a passerby at 500 Frith Drive to call 911. Sink was last seen in the water, before vanishing out of sight.

Sink is described as 5' 11" tall, 160 lbs, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie sweatshirt with a "John Deere" logo, dark blue jeans and camouflage boots.

Tatum says the body has not yet been identified but is believed to be Sink.


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About the Author
Rachel Lucas headshot

Watch Rachel anchor weekdays during 10 News at 5, 5:30, 6 and 7 p.m. Rachel also specializes in health reporting and provides daily reports during HealthWatch. A Southwest Virginia native, Rachel takes pride in covering local news for the place she calls home.