Tim Wiley, an experienced white water kayaker and rafter was paddling a cataraft when he went missing on the James River near Glasgow, VA on Nov. 12th. and is presumed drowned. His boat was found floating without him. He was last seen on the beach near Balcony Falls.
The cataraft, 12 to 14 feet long, was found. There was a cooler in the boat with wet clothes in it.
Virginia Conservation Police Officers continue search on the James River for missing person.
On Saturday, November 12, 2022, the Department of Wildlife Resources Law Enforcement Division received a call about a boat being seen on the James River that appeared to be unoccupied. Conservation Police Officers (CPOs) began an investigation and soon realized that a 61-year-old man from Rockbridge County was missing. They also learned that the last contact with his family was at 11:34 a.m. Upon arriving to the general location of the call, CPOs soon located his vehicle at a boat ramp, in Glasgow. A Preliminary search was conducted and is still ongoing by various Law Enforcement Agencies, EMS Services, Search and Rescue Organizations and volunteers. The search has involved numerous swift water and river boats, foot patrols, K9 Officers and drones. It is important to note that the water level has been extremely elevated and nearing flood level due to significant rain, which has made for dangerous conditions for the search operations. The search is ongoing.
With no one around to go for help and describe the event, we may never know what happened The only lesson here is that “Boating alone is not a good idea. Especially at high water.”
Mason Basten: Perhaps his boat came off the beach and he ran then swam after it. Lot of wind and current there. Anything above say 2500 it really starting pulling boats off the beach. Very sad deal. I think he flush drowned or the cold water got him
