A body pulled out of the Diversion Channel this afternoon is believed to be that of a missing boater, according to police.

A 911 call was made about 12:50 p.m. by fishermen at the scene who saw someone go under the water, Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Capt. David James said.

"They heard a splash and thought they heard someone scream out," he said.

The fishermen, Donald Hoots and Jerry Walker, noticed an empty boat, the engine still running, and called emergency officials.

Hoots said the men were coming back from a fishing trip along the bank, walking through woods and weeds, when they heard a cry for help.

They saw the man once as he was going down and never saw him resurface.

"Me and my buddy (Walker) got one of his fishing poles, and we snagged the boat and drug it over to the bank to turn the trolling motor off, because it was going round and round in circles," Hoots said. "He [the boater] was on the back side of the boat."

Walker said the boat was about 25 feet out.

He and Hoots were unable to secure the boat at the ramp, so it drifted back out into the Diversion Channel.

Several agencies responded to the call, including Scott City police and Cape Girardeau firefighting crews, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department.

"Cape Fire came and put divers in the water right away," said James.

With no boater in sight, the search quickly turned into a recovery mission, he said.

A body was retrieved about 3 p.m.

Family members who knew the boater was on the Diversion Channel and saw police activity in the area were on the scene at the time.

The victim's identity has not yet been released.

The autopsy will be handled by the Cape Girardeau County Coroner's office.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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