Northern Iowa man drowns in Iowa River

IOWA FALLS – A Northern Iowa man tragically drowned in the Iowa River over the weekend.

On April 25, 2025, at approximately 11:48 AM, the Hardin County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting that a male subject was in the Iowa River in Iowa Falls. It was reported that male had become separated from a kayak that he had been in.

Public Safety was immediately dispatched to the area and an extensive search was conducted, according to Hardin County Sheriff Dave McDaniel. At approximately 10:53 PM, the body of white male was recovered.

Later, authorities revealed that the male recovered from the Iowa River in this incident was  identified as 34-year-old Levi Mentz of Iowa Falls.

The Hardin County Sheriffs Office was assisted by the Hardin County Communications Center, Hardin County Emergency Management, Hardin County Emergency Squad, Hardin County Medical Examiners Office, Iowa Falls Fire Department, Iowa Falls EMS, Iowa Falls Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Alden Fire Department, Butler County Emergency Management, Story County Sheriffs Office Dive Team, Iowa Underwater Search and Rescue and the Ventura Fire Rescue.