YCSO: Body recovered of man who fell into Mittry Lake

Family has been notified

The body of a 54-year-old man who fell into Mittry Lake on October 28 has been found.

Friday morning on November 8, Yuma County Sheriff (YCSO) Search and Rescue located the body of Woodley Mason in the Gila gravity Canal in the area of Adair Park Road.

Search and Rescue members along with YCSO Dive Team members recovered Mason's body from the canal. The Yuma County Medical Examiner also responded to the scene.

Mason's family has been notified.

On Monday, October 28, 2019, YCSO received a report of an adult male from California who had fallen into the Gila Gravity Canal  while fishing.

YCSO personnel, with Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) authorities responded to the area and searched for Mason.

The search continued for the remainder of the week, with officials searching on foot, in vehicles, and on jet skis. The Yuma Police (YPD) dive team searched underwater.

YCSO thanks all those involved in the search efforts.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

The body of a 54-year-old man who fell into Mittry Lake on October 28 has yet to be found.

The Yuma County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) said Woodley Mason, from Los Angeles, was fishing in the Gila Main Canal near Laguna Road and Imperial Dam Road when he fell into the water. 

Reports said the Yuma Police Department along with YCSO have used divers, jet ski, and land search to recover the man. However, they have been unsuccessful.

The missing man's sister Diane Mason said, “We are told that a helicopter flyover would be able to find him but the Sheriff’s Department does not have access to a helicopter. We just want to be able to take him home so that our family can properly grieve."

YCSO said they are negotiating with Border Patrol to conduct a flyover but an agreement is yet to be made.