BEAVER, W.Va. -- Searchers on Friday found the body of a missing firefighter swept away in last week's flooding. Cabell County Emergency Medical Services Director Gordon Merry received word of the discovery Friday afternoon.

The week-old search had focused on finding Glasgow, W.Va., Volunteer Firefighter Donald Adkins. The 32-year-old disappeared Saturday, March 13, when his boat capsized during a rescue effort in Raleigh County, W.Va.

Members of Cabell County EMS and the Barboursville Volunteer Fire Department assisted in Friday's search effort. They did not find Adkins' body, but Merry said they assisted in the recovery effort that followed.

Prior to the discovery, Barboursville Volunteer Fire Chief Paul Hockenberry and Merry said participating in the search amounts to family helping family.

"It's like a brotherhood," Hockenberry said of the fire department and EMS. "That is why these guys want to go. We've lost one of ours."

Cabell County was providing assistance at the request of the state Fire Marshal. Its volunteer delegation consisted of two groups. One traveled to the area Friday. They were to be followed by another group Saturday, March 20.

Merry anticipated sending five to six from his agency. He said those making the trip were off-duty employees searching on their own time without compensation from his agency.

Hockenberry said the firefighter group, set for Saturday, would have included volunteers from Barboursville, Milton, Green Valley, Ona, Salt Rock and the Ohio River Road volunteer fire departments.

Many of those included in the Cabell County delegation possessed special training in swift water rescues, Hockenberry and Merry said.

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