Hero dad’s body found after Mississippi river search near Elk River

ELK RIVER, Minn. (KVRR/FOX 9) — The body of missing Minnesota father is recovered after he went missing in the Mississippi River.

The Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office says the body of 41-year-old Cody Pope was found after two days of searching.

Search and rescue crews have been combing the river since late Friday morning after he disappeared under water.

Deputies say the man and his two kids were swimming from a sandbar when his son and daughter began to struggle.

Pope was able to get his kids to safety before he went under and never came back up.