Officials have identified a Nodaway River drowning victim as a 19-year-old Skidmore resident.

Captain Bryan Atkins of the Andrew County Sheriff’s office, said Tuesday that Eli Stiens was swimming in the river Monday about 25 feet from the sandbar when Atkins believes currents swept him away.

Atkins said Stiens was out on an overnight camping and swimming trip with friends –– one from Maryville and two others from Andrew County.

"He reportedly wasn’t a good swimmer," Atkins said, "and when he went under his friends were unable to save him."

Missouri State Water Patrol reported Stiens’ friends at some point had grabbed him, but had to let him go when they were also being pulled under.

Rescue crews received the call at 5:07 p.m. with the sheriff’s office, Savannah Volunteer Fire Department and the state water patrol responding.

Rescuers recovered the body more than two hours later at about 7:30 p.m.

Stiens’ body was then transported to the Danfelt Funeral Home. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home. A funeral service scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 24 at the Burr Oak United Methodist Church in Skidmore.

Stiens’ death is the first drowning at the river this year. Atkins said he believes it’s also the first in the last 4 to 5 years as well.

"It’s not out of the ordinary," Atkins said, "it’s just not something you also have happen every day."

He added that deeper areas of the river and changing currents can take swimmers off guard and in some cases result in death.