KTKA

Rescue crews are beginning to give up hope, after an intense week of searching for a 9-year-old boy swept away in the Kansas River.

Michael Zapletal disappeared in the river during a family outing near Maple Hill, when a sandbar collapsed.

Rescuers have put in hundreds of hours looking for the boy. They've searched the Kansas River from Maple Hill to Topeka.

The Army Corps of Engineers lowered the water level in the river, in hopes Michael's body might surface.

Now, rescue crews are struggling with where to turn next.

"Right now, we're just trying to think, is there any more that we can do or should do," said Alan McKenzie, Rossville fire chief. "We've pretty well searched the river just as thoroughly as possible."

On Tuesday there was very little searching going on, as crews have now scaled back their efforts. Boats, sonar equipment and helicopters will be used, but only a few times each day, McKenzie said

He said they'll eventually have to give up on their search completely.

Meanwhile, family and friends have been keeping watch on a bridge above where the boy was last seen.

"(Michael's father) has been spending most of the days out there : just to keep one extra set of eyes out there," said the Rev. Eric Flood, the family's priest.

The church has held vigils for the boy every night since he went missing.

Services for Michael could be held as soon as this weekend, even if the body isn't found, said Flood.