2 men who went missing in the Salt River believed to be recovered, police say

PHOENIX - Bodies of the two men who went underwater while paddleboarding on the Salt River on April 9 are believed to have been recovered a week later.

The Phoenix Fire Department stopped its search because of dangerous conditions near 19th Avenue, but friends and family were still out looking along the river bank.

Phoenix Police identified the men as 38-year-old Ryan Jacobs and 38-year-old Shane Coates.

On April 15, police said, "Phoenix police recovered a body this afternoon from the Salt River near 19th Avenue believed to be one of two kayakers reported missing. The Phoenix Police Department has been in continuous contact with the loved ones of both men reported missing. Detectives will be taking over the scene. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death as well as make a positive ID."

That person was Coates.

On April 16, police announced the second body, belonging to Jacobs, was believed to have been found, but a ways away from where Coates was found.

"Phoenix police recovered a body this afternoon from the Salt River near 71st Avenue believed to be the second kayaker/paddleboarder that was reported missing on April 9, 2023. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death as well as make a positive ID," police said.

We've spoken with family and friends of both men and many people were out there, searching the banks downstream, hoping to find them. The Phoenix Fire Department determined it was too dangerous for their swift water rescue crews to go into the water.

Take a look at the video, and you can see why. There are two life vests and a paddleboard stuck in the current, so the water is flowing fast westbound down the Salt River, but it appears there's an undercurrent at that spot that's flowing in the opposite direction, trapping the board and debris.

PFD spent April 9 searching for the missing boarders with a helicopter and scoured the sides of the Salt River.

Friends tell FOX 10 the pair scouted the river and planned their route on April 7. They had planned to float around 20 miles along the river and finish in time to make it home to celebrate Easter with their families. Sadly, they never made it out of the river.

"Their plan was to put in at 7th Street and float down to 91st … didn't show up … we saw the news report the other night, that's when we all got together and started looking," said Chase Morse, a friend.

Friends and family are praying they find the two men, but those we spoke with are not optimistic about finding them alive.

A bright blue paddleboard could be seen in the rushing waters.

Family of 38-year-old Ryan Jacobs spent days searching for him.

"Walking up and down this river, miles and miles, going from different points thinking that we will find at least the kayak, something," said Riley Klopfenstein, Ryan's younger sister.

Shawn Klopfenstein, Ryan's mother, says he and Shane checked the river out before heading out on the water.

"They had scouted Friday, and it was smooth, and they let the dam out, and I guess they didn't scout again before they left, and they ended up with this," she said.

The concerned mother and sister both say they want answers.

"I know you can't risk lives getting in here, but I want to know what a plan is. If you can't do that, what else can we do?" Shawn asked.

"If the fire department can't do anything and the police department cant do anything, then they need to be calling in resources that can do something. Why don't we have airboats out here like we do at the other end of the Salt River? Why have cameras not going in the water? I just don't feel like they're taking it seriously, and we're talking about somebody's dad, somebody's husband, my brother, my mom's son," Riley said.

GoFundMe for Shane: https://gofund.me/4e295a25