WESTMORELAND, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) New Hampshire State Police have identified the man who drowned in the Connecticut River over the weekend as Cory Walker, 41, of Westminster Station, Vt. and confirmed Tuesday that his death has been ruled accidental.

Walker was reported missing late Saturday night after being last seen around 10 p.m. leaving the Putney, Vt., side of the river in his canoe. The following morning, friends discovered his canoe overturned near Ferry Road in Westmoreland and contacted authorities.

Emergency crews from multiple agencies — including Westmoreland, Walpole, Spofford and Chesterfield fire and rescue departments, the Water Rescue Task Force, Walpole Police, Vermont State Police, and New Hampshire Fish and Game — joined the search on Sunday, Oct. 19. Divers recovered Walker’s body just before 3 p.m., near where his canoe was found.

According to State Police, Walker often camped along the river and occasionally spent nights sleeping in his canoe. Investigators said the vessel was found capsized and still anchored to the riverbed a short distance from shore.

An autopsy performed by the New Hampshire Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Walker’s death was the result of an accidental drowning. Authorities said the incident does not appear suspicious, though the exact circumstances that caused the canoe to overturn remain under investigation.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Marine Patrol Sgt. Nicholas Haroutunian at 227-2112 or Nicholas.M.Haroutunian@dos.nh.gov.

Officials are reminding boaters to wear life jackets as river temperatures continue to drop with the onset of fall.