Atlanta

'We felt helpless': Friends talk about heartbreaking search for UGA student

ATLANTA — Family and friends of a University of Georgia student killed in a rafting accident in Wyoming are preparing to say goodbye.

Oliver Woodward's family returned to home Georgia Saturday night after search and rescue teams recovered his body from a Wyoming river.

They invited Channel 2’s Chris Jose to their home Monday to show him how they are remembering the student.

Oliver Woodward's family returned to home Georgia Saturday night after search and rescue teams recovered his body from a Wyoming river.

Woodward’s family told Jose that Oliver enjoyed spending time with his friends and family. They shared photos of the student, saying he was always smiling.

“He literally was just the nicest person,” friend Kaki Spencer told Jose.

Spencer's brother was on the raft with Woodward on July 4 when they hit a wave on the Snake river and were thrown overboard.

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Woodward's four friends swam to shore.

“It definitely didn't set in for me then, but it was one of the worst days of my life,” Spencer said.

“I thought this was going to be some story we were going to sit around the camp fire and tell each other for the rest of our lives, but when we got done there we saw how cruel the river was,” friend Frank Wilson told Jose.

Wilson traveled to Jackson, Wyoming the day after Woodward disappeared along with childhood friend Will Thurman.

“We felt helpless in Atlanta,” Thurman said.

Robert Rousseau also helped with the search.

“It's just moving so fast, and so cold, and so deep. It's definitely very dangerous,” Rousseau said.

Late Wednesday, a kayaker found Woodward’s body. His friends left a memorial before leaving to come back to Atlanta.

“I told myself this is the only time I’ll ever go. Just because of this, but after seeing it and seeing how much he loved it, I feel like I have to go back because that was his place,” Rousseau said.

Woodward's celebration of life is scheduled for Aug. 4.

In lieu of flowers, the family wants people to donate to local charities.