The medical examiner's office in Sioux Falls confirmed that the recovered remains in the Missouri River are the body of a college student who went missing while swimming in the river earlier this month.

Remains were recovered Wednesday in the Missouri River, according to the Union County Sheriff's Office. The remains are those of Tom Patterson, a student at Briar Cliff University from Frostburg, Md.

Patterson was with friends in the river on Sept. 4 southwest of Elk Point. Five swam across the river to the Nebraska shoreline, according to a statement from Union County Sheriff Dan Limoges. Patterson had stayed on the South Dakota shoreline.

About 30 minutes later, one person swam back across the river to the South Dakota shoreline to meet up with Patterson. The group decided to have Patterson and another person swim to the middle of the river to help the other four back across.

Patterson took his dog leash and wrapped it around himself to use as a tether for the other four individuals.