Body of Kalpesh Patel, missing Saylorville Lake boater, recovered

Crews have found the body of a man missing at Saylorville Lake since Monday evening.

The recovery of 42-year-old Kalpesh Patel, of Urbandale, was made at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to a Polk County Sheriff's Office news release.

The search began after the sheriff's office received several 911 calls around 6 p.m. Monday from people who said Patel fell from a boat and had not resurfaced. The incident happened on the east side of the Iowa 415 bridge across Saylorville, known as the Mile Long Bridge.

The search was called off at dark.

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Polk County sheriff's spokesperson Capt. Ryan Evans said in the release crews resumed at 7 a.m. Tuesday and had nine boats and a dive team searching the water. Crews used cadaver dogs and sonar equipment when they identified a possible location for the victim around 10:15 a.m. Tuesday.

Divers then found Patel's body around 10:30 a.m.

Evans said at a news conference Tuesday the death was an unfortunate accident and foul play is not suspected. The investigation is ongoing as responders interview witnesses and piece together what happened.

It is currently unknown whether Patel was wearing a safety vest.

Agencies involved with the response included Polk County Conservation, the state conservation agency, Ankeny Fire Department, Polk City Fire Department, Granger Fire Department and a search and rescue team from Ventura.

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The Mile Long Bridge, which was closed Monday during the initial search, was reopened in the evening and stayed open Tuesday.

Evans encouraged boaters going out on the water to make sure they have safety vests on hand and take other boat safety precautions.

Chris Higgins covers the eastern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at [email protected] or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_