BETHEL TWP — A Middletown boater returned home early Monday morning, June 28, after he had been reported missing when his canoe overturned on the Mad River.

Authorities had been searching for Donald Hatton, 39, since Sunday, June 27, after he was reported missing at about 8:30 p.m. at Aaron’s Canoe Livery on Old Lower Valley Pike.

But Jacob King, Bethel Twp. Fire chief, said Hatton called his girlfriend early Monday morning to report that he was OK and was returning home. Hatton could not be reached for comment Monday morning.

According to information from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Hatton and his girlfriend were on a canoe trip on the Mad River Sunday evening when their canoe overturned near the 5000 block of Lower Valley Pike. She was able to get back into the canoe, but Hatton was not, and he swam to the shore and exited the river instead. Because of the current, she was also not able to get the canoe to shore to retrieve him.

Hatton had planned to walk the rest of the way back to Aaron’s Canoe Livery, but his girlfriend notified authorities when he didn’t show up.

King said the trip was expected to last about six to eight hours. Authorities searched the area where they believed Hatton was missing, but he wasn’t found Sunday evening. Instead, Hatton had taken cover in a field in a different location due to a thunderstorm, and called his girlfriend early in the morning.

King said several agencies assisted with the search, including the Bethel and Springfield Twp. Fire and Rescue teams. Firefighters from Enon, as well as Clark County Sheriff’s deputies and the Clark County Emergency Management Agency also provided assistance.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.