SCOTT CITY, Mo. (AP) – Authorities say a missing hunter has been found dead in southeast Missouri.

The Southeast Missourian (bit.ly/1PpLtE7) reports that Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter says 23-year-old Zackary Johnston was underwater when he was discovered Wednesday. He said the death was “an unfortunate accident.”
Johnston left home alone at 2 p.m. Tuesday to go duck hunting.

His mother, Marsha Johnston, says the family began to worry starting at dusk. She called her son’s disappearance “every mother’s worst nightmare.”

Dozens of officers were involved in the search. The Scott County Sheriff’s Department used a drone, while other jurisdictions were manning two helicopters. Officers and dogs were searching the area on foot.