Woman drowns while tubing on the Wapsi

A woman drowned Saturday afternoon while tubing in the Wapsipinicon River, authorities said.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m., first responders received a report that a woman saw a friend’s tube float by her, but the friend was missing. Crews found the caller on the south bank in the area between the Paris River Bridge on Sutton Road and the bridge on Paris Road in Linn County. A rescue boat was launched.

The friend was located by Linn County conservation officers unresponsive in the river shortly after 2 p.m. Lifesaving efforts began as she was transported to the Paris Road Bridge bank area.

The woman — identified Sunday as Mechele Horak, 47, of Marion — died about a half-hour later, authorities said.

Linn County sheriff deputies, Linn County Sheriff’s Rescue 57, Central City Fire Department, Center Point Ambulance Service and Linn County Conservation Officers responded to the drowning.