The body of an Effingham County man missing since Saturday was pulled from the Savannah River on Monday morning.

Charles Winfield Morel Jr., 51, died after a boating accident Saturday, said Mark McKinnon, public affairs officer with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Morel was boating near the Blue Springs landing in Screven County when, according to witness reports, his boat flipped and landed on top of him.

Morel’s body was taken to the Screven County coroner’s office, where examinations are being done to determine the cause of death, McKinnon said.

The Georgia DNR law enforcement division is leading the investigation. The search involved help from the Newington Fire Department, Georgia State Patrol, South Carolina DNR and sheriff’s departments and EMS from Screven, Effingham and Burke counties and other agencies, he said.
Screven County sheriff’s Investigator Brett Dickerson said Morel’s body was found “a short distance downstream” of the accident location.

McKinnon said the investigation into the accident could take up to eight weeks, as investigators will interview witnesses and inspect the boat thoroughly.

“I’m glad we were able to find him today. It’s not the outcome you want,” but locating the victim’s body should give family members some closure, McKinnon added.

Services for Morel will be held Thursday at Mizpah United Methodist Church.

The Statesboro Herald contributed to this report.