Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: The elderly man who died in this canal on Saturday, July 20, has been identified as Danny Koreen, 72, of Safford. The cause of death was ruled accidental drowning.
By Jon Johnson
THATCHER – The man found deceased in the Union Canal on Saturday, July 20, near 8th Street and Bauer Avenue has been identified as Danny Koreen, 72, of Safford.
Koreen had reportedly been assisting a resident with their animals when he appeared to have mistakenly fallen into the canal upstream of where he was found.
Koreen was located deceased in the canal at about 11:50 a.m. and was removed and taken by a local funeral home.
Thatcher Police Chief Shaffen Woods said an investigation and coinciding autopsy ruled that his cause of death was from accidental drowning.
“We would like to express our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Koreen,” Woods said in a press release.
