Quick Poll

If gas prices reach $5 per gallon by Memorial Day as many are predicting, will you seriously consider purchasing a more fuel-efficient automobile?

Blogs

Angela McRae

Tea with friends

Deberah Williams

Everyday Finesse

Lorrie Lynch

Who's News

Published Wednesday, July 28, 2010 in Local

Newnan man presumed dead in Wyoming's Snake River

By Elizabeth Melville

The Newnan Times-Herald

A Newnan man reported missing on Saturday after he was swept away in the Snake River in Wyoming is presumed dead, authorities say.

Joel Fegarido, 46, of 25 Briarwood Place in Newnan, jumped into the water in the Snake River Canyon during a family vacation to rescue his son from the strong current, according to published reports in the Jackson Hole Daily.

His church family, the Peachtree City Seventh Day Adventist Church, is holding out hope Fegarido will be rescued alive.

“As a church, we are clinging onto that thread of hope that he can be rescued — and we will until we hear otherwise,” said Pastor Dave Ketelsen Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities were more reluctant to hold out hope.

“We haven’t been able to locate him, and we feel like this is probably a recovery effort at this point,” said Lincoln County Sheriff Shane Johnson on Tuesday. “We will continue to search the area on a scaled-back level.”

A Star Valley Search and Rescue unit will continue spot checks along the river, and the forestry service will float down the river every morning in search of Fegarido. In the evening, a swift-water rescue boat will travel the river again, according to Johnson.

Fegarido’s family — his wife and two young children — returned to Newnan Monday evening, according to their pastor. A relative remains in Wyoming awaiting news. Sheriff Johnson said family members are in touch with search and rescue officials and the coroner’s office.

“They’ve been in touch with the family to let them know what to expect,” said Johnson.

Ketelsen said Fegarido, his wife and their 10-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter were on vacation at Yellowstone National Park with friends and family. The group was at an area of the Snake River where they could swim and jump off the canyon rocks into the water, according to Johnson. Fegarido’s son got “caught up in quicker water and started getting pulled away,” according to Johnson. The boy’s father jumped in and the two continued down the river. Fegarido was able to push his son closer to the bank where people were able to pull him to safety.

“They turned around and Joel was gone,” said Johnson.

The sheriff confirmed that Fegarido was not wearing a life jacket at the time he entered the water.

Search and rescue was unable to respond until Sunday because the accident occurred just before 7 p.m. Saturday, according to the Jackson Hole Daily. Rescuers used a contract helicopter to search for Fegarido, but to no avail.

Johnson said this is tragically a common occurrence on the river.

“Typically, it’s people not wearing life jackets,” said Johnson. “This is just an unfortunate accident.”

Ketelsen said Fegarido was an employee of Delta Airlines and that he operated his own local real estate business, Stellar Properties, on the side. He has been the school board chairman of the Shoal Creek Adventist School in Sharpsburg for approximately two years.

“He is just a great guy,” said Ketelsen. “He would do anything for anyone. He was very active in our church, and he loved to help out our school. If anyone needed to move, he’d bring his truck and help. He was always willing to lend a helping hand.”

Ketelsen said Fegarido had just joined a men’s Bible group. He was “very active” and loved the “great outdoors.”

“Fly fishing was one of his real joys in life,” said Ketelsen.