Elderly man found deceased in canal identified

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: An elderly man was found deceased in this canal along 8th Street just west of Bauer Avenue on Saturday.

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

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

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. 

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: The Thatcher Police Department investigated the death.

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.