The Opp Fire Department helped with an early morning water recovery in Geneva County Friday morning on the Choctawhatchee River.

A host of law enforcement officials and emergency responders conducted a search that found the body of 81-year-old Ed Simmons of Taylor.

According to reports from the Dothan Eagle, Geneva County Sheriff Tony Helms said that a resident near the High Falls landing on the river reported a boat floating unoccupied down the river and had noticed earlier a man attempting to launch the boat.

Opp Fire Chief Cory Spurlin said that the sheriff requested their assistance this morning.

Spurlin said that the Houston County Search and Rescue had gotten some sonar hits yesterday, but the river currents were too bad.

“They had another hit today on their sonar in the same area,” Spurlin said. “They sent us down river and our sonar also showed that it looked like it could be something.”

Spurlin said OFD divers and a Houston County diver began diving in the area with plans to work a 50-75 foot span of the river.

“It just so happened that the spot we teamed on first happened to be him,” Spurlin said. “We were able to recover the body and give the family some closure.”