[Update 3/18/24] – The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as 23-year-old Daniel Van Brocklin, of Raymond.

LA PORTE CITY, Iowa (KCRG) — A canoer spending the night at a campsite along the Cedar River in Black Hawk County died after likely tripping and falling into a bonfire, the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office reports, according to KCRG.

Deputies were called on Sunday to a sandbar of the Cedar River between Gilbertville and La Porte City for a report of a body found there.

Investigators determined the man was canoeing alone on the Cedar River and had made a campsite, including a bonfire, on a sandbar to sleep overnight. Investigators said the man likely tripped and fell into the bonfire and caught fire.

The name of the person has not been released at this time. An autopsy is expected to be conducted by the Iowa State Medical Examiner.