The body of a 17-year-old boy who went missing Friday while swimming with friends in Barren River was recovered Sunday afternoon. He has been identified as a student at the Gatton Academy on the Western Kentucky University campus.

Warren County Emergency Management posted shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday on its social media accounts that the person had been found after many hours of searching.

While the victim has not been named, The Gatton Academy issued the following statement:

“The Gatton Academy community has experienced a terrible tragedy. We mourn the loss of a remarkable student who was impactful and beloved within the Gatton Academy as well as his home community. We extend our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to the student’s family and loved ones. Gatton and WKU counselors are available to students. Gatton families and staff are also supporting our students as they navigate this difficult time.”

Search efforts spanned parts of three days, concentrating on a stretch of river a short distance upstream from the River Street bridge. Cody Fox of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife said the body was recovered at 2:59 p.m. Sunday from about 17 feet of water just above a low-head dam located near the pedestrian bridge.

Fox said search workers used sonar and divers in the recovery effort.

First responders were called out to the river shortly before 4 p.m. Friday.

Katie McKee of the Bowling Green Fire Department said that the 17-year-old was attempting to swim from one side of the river to the other with two friends.

At one point, the friends turned around and noticed him struggling, and they tried to help him, but their efforts were unsuccessful, McKee said.

Search teams were on the river Friday afternoon and resumed the search Saturday morning until it was suspended around 7 p.m.

The search resumed on Sunday, resulting in the recovery of the body in the afternoon.

The county emergency management department said that the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, BGFD, Barren County Rescue Team, Hart County Rescue Team, Richardsville Volunteer Fire Department, Campbellsville Fire and Rescue, Hardin County Emergency Management, Hart County Emergency Management, Bowling Green Police Department and Bowling Green Municipal Utilities safety officials all contributed to the search effort.