Canoer finds man's body in the Haw River

Authorities pulled a man's body from the Haw River on Wednesday near the Swepsonville-Saxapahaw bridge in Alamance County.

The Alamance County Sheriff's Office said a man canoeing on the river about 3:30 p.m. saw what he thought to be a body lodged against a rock in the water.

Officers accessed a trail behind the Rivermill Apartments at 1735 Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Road and found the body at the bottom of a steep incline, approximately 5 feet from the shoreline.

Officials identified the victim as Sammy Lee Riley, 50, of Horner Farm Trail in Mebane.

The victim's body was taken to Alamance Regional Medical Center. An autopsy is pending.

The Alamance Rescue Swift Water Team assisted in the recovery.

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