Keawe Pestana’s body found in Idaho

The family of Keawe Pestana, the Deaf man who went missing in the Salmon River in Riggins, Idaho, announced yesterday on Facebook that his body was found on Sunday, exactly one month later in a harbor about 15 to 20 miles away.

He went missing when he jumped into a rushing river on April 26 because his cousin’s three children fell out of a canoe with an adult. The children and the adult were wearing life jackets and made it to safety, but Keawe disappeared. His family thinks he was pulled in a strong eddy/whirlpool.

There was a multi-agency search for him but after a few days of searching, he was presumed dead. Now the family said they hopes finding his body will help each of us to have closure and know once and for all that he is at peace.

The family said they would cremate him, have a celebration of his life in Idaho, and put up a cross at the river. His ashes will be taken to the Big Island of Hawaii, where he was born and raised.

Keawe Family Updates: http://bit.ly/2QvKawO

Keawe Pestana Tribute Video: https://youtu.be/BnhbI51oV4k

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/article229828159.html