Updated: Body of boater recovered Sunday afternoon

Update: 9 p.m.

According to Senior Trooper Reginald King with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the body of Virginia Wright Williamson, 36, of Meridian, Miss., was recovered from the Black Warrior River Sunday around 1:37 p.m. On Saturday, around 8 p.m., Williamson entered the water from a pontoon boat. Witnesses say Williamson showed signs of struggle before disappearing under the surface. She was not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD).

Assisting in the recovery was ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division, as well as the Tuscaloosa Fire Department divers.

Update – 3:07 p.m.

Rescue workers have located the body of a person who went missing after falling from a boat on the Black Warrior River Saturday around 8 p.m. The victim has been identified as 36-year-old Virginia Williamson.

This story will be updated as more information surrounding the incident is made available.

Original Story:

Rescue crews have spent much of Sunday searching for a female boater on the Black Warrior River north of Demopolis. The unidentified female is believed to be 36 years old and reportedly went missing after falling off a boat around 8 p.m. Saturday night according to rescue personnel at the scene. The search area is near the Arcola area of the Black Warrior near Cypress Cove. Crews are also searching north of French Creek.

Agencies involved as of Sunday morning include the Marengo Fire and Rescue Squad, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Alabama Marine Police, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Calls have been placed to the Choctaw County Rescue Squad and South Marengo Fire and Rescue Squad, who were in the process of supplying personnel just after noon Sunday. Divers are on the way to the scene.

The West Alabama Watchman has a crew on the scene and will update this story as information becomes available.