JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Deputies confirmed the body recovered from Guana State Park earlier this week was missing kayaker Garth Sangree.
Sangree's death has been ruled as an accidental drowning.
Garth Sangree told people in late January that he was going on a kayak trip alone near the Jacksonville Beach Pier. He never returned.
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Multiple agencies searched for him over two days before the search was called off.
Sangree’s dad, Mark Sangree, told Action News that it’s been a blessing to hear just how loved his son was at his school, the University of North Florida and at his Jacksonville church.
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"In a strange sort of way I've been given a gift to see that Garth lived an absolutely fantastic life that affected a lot of people in a positive way. It was always his goal in life to be able to impact people positively and he did that," Mark Sangree said.
Sangree’s family has already had services for their son, but his dad said the identification gives them even more closure.