Name of drowning victim, further details have been released

The Iowa DNR is providing more details of Sunday's drowning on the Upper Iowa River.

The victim has been identified as 65-year-old Susan Ann Fechhelm of St. Petersburg, Florida.  The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the

accident occurred around 2:45 Sunday afternoon.

In an updated news release, the DNR says, "Kayakers found the body of Susan Ann Fechhelm near the shoreline and attempted to provide immediate medical attention.  She was eventually transported to Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, where she was pronounced dead.

Fechhelm was by herself in a kayak and believed to have been in distress, although no witnesses observed her kayak capsizing. Fechhelm was wearing a life jacket when she left the canoe access, however it is unknown at this time why and when the life jacket partially came off.

An autopsy will be performed on Fechhelm at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny to determine if any other factors contributed to the drowning." 

This case remains under investigation by the Iowa DNR.  Assisting agencies included Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office, Decorah Fire Department, Winneshiek County Medical Center Ambulance, Iowa State Patrol and Iowa Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Enforcement.