Body of Pomona man found in North Fork River near Blue Spring
The body of Pomona resident Norman Robinson was found about 100 yards downstream from Blue Spring, pictured above. The spring, located on a short trail that is accessed from the North Fork Recreation Area (known locally as Hammond access) is a popular swimming hole in the summer months.
A man and his young son were floating on the North Fork of the White River Sunday morning when the boy reportedly spotted an orange shirt under the water about 100 yards downstream of Blue Spring near the Hammond access on CC Highway southeast of Dora (officially known as North Fork Recreation Area).
Moving closer, the father and son realized the shirt was on a body that was lodged under a large rock underwater. They paddled to the nearby Hammond campground and told Paul Goldstern, the campground manager, who quickly called 911.
An Ozark County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher received the call at 9:03 a.m. July 19.
Officers with the sheriff’s office, the Missouri State Highway Patrol Water Division and Dora Volunteer Fire Department first responders were dispatched to the scene. Ozark County Ambulance and Air Evac were also dispatched initially, but their response was canceled when it was determined the drowning victim could not be resuscitated.
The body, which was reportedly trapped under the big rock in about 8 feet of water, was removed from the river.
Officers were initially unsure of the man’s identify; however, they were able to ID the victim Sunday afternoon. Ozark County Sheriff Darrin Reed told the Times Monday morning the victim had been identified as Pomona resident Norman Robinson, who Reed estimated as 79 or 80 years old.
Reed said officers have found nothing to indicate foul play at the scene, but he added that the investigation was currently open and officers are still reviewing all the evidence.