Missing 10-year-old boy found dead in Penn River

A 10-year-old kayaker was found dead in Yellow Breeches Creek, Pennsylvania. Wednesday, August 14, perWGAL, ABC 27 and Penn Live.

Matthew Coffroth, Jr. was first reported missing on Saturday, August 10, and was found four days later. The York County Coroner’s Office ruled his death an accidental drowning, according to a news release from the York County Coroner’s Office.

The boy was kayaking with his friends and family (four children and three adults) in Yellow Breeches Creek.

The group set sail on Saturday around 5 p.m., planning to kayak a mile. But just minutes into the trip, they encountered heavy debris, mostly downed trees and branches, causing little Coverroth to fall from the boat, Penn Live reported.

He fell into the water and never resurfaced. The remaining seven kayakers made it back to shore safely.

According to a report by ABC on the 27th, Mike Parker, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, said: “The dangers that are always present, are below the surface of the water, and will enter the waterway cannot be underestimated.” The rocky water that existed when the water level was low is now being Submerged and invisible.

Although there were life jackets, it was unclear whether the child was wearing one when he fell into the water.

“I was told that the family and the children had kayaked before and this was not their first time out on the water,” Parker said, according to WGAL.

After the incident, multiple fire and rescue agencies and more than 250 people from two states and seven counties assisted in the search.

Fairview Township Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Freistat said the child’s family is “extremely grateful” for the public’s help, WGAL reported.

“We are fortunate that we have people in our community who are willing to do this and who are willing to go into places that many of us would flee to avoid danger or to be exposed to the environment for extended periods of time,” Parker said, per WGAL.

Rescuers began searching the rubble on Tuesday, August 13, and made progress during the day using equipment to clear the rubble.

The younger Coverros was found at 7:44 a.m. Wednesday in a pile of debris about a mile from where he was last seen, according to the York County Coroner’s Office. Deputy Coroner Michelle Kirchner arrived at the scene to investigate and confirm the death. The office did not order an autopsy.

Fairview Township police assisted Pennsylvania State Police in the investigation. The incident will now be investigated by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

On Tuesday, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to help support the Coffroth family. As of publication, the page has raised more than $24,000 of its $25,000 goal.

“This is a gift no family wants to receive, but even a little relief can go a long way,” the page description reads. “It’s time for our families to know that we love and support them more than anyone could ever imagine.”

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Representatives from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information.