Tragedy at the lake last night.

[deputydawg]

Last night or early this morning aound 0230 I was dispatched to assist the next county over search for 2 boaters on the lake. The boaters men I know from here in my town. <br /><br />I found out that they had been missing about 12 hours by that time. Yesterday they purchased a 12 foot boat with an electric trolling motor and took it out on the water. The day was warm for February, around 60. The water was a little chilly around 33 degrees. I was called with one of my deputies to use our infrared cameras to search for the men.<br /><br />About 0430 this morning we located the boat and debris floating in the water about 200 yards offshore. During the night the lake had iced over and the wind shifted pushing the ice to our end, so we ended up with 6inches of ice on the water. With the ice and the low water with hazardous rocks we decided to wait til daylight to launch a rescue boat. Took us that long to get the Army Corps of Engineers boat out of winter storage. <br /><br />In the infrared scopes the debris looked like a body bobbing in the water. Turns out the boat was overturned and the stuff we saw floating was the beer cooler, bait bucket, life jackets and other trash. No bodies. We had hoped they got out and found refuge in one of the empty summer cabins, but it doesn't look that way. With the water temp things aren't looking good. It is supposed to warm back up to the 60's today. They will be dragging the lake later today. <br /><br />Why do people do that, buy a boat and hit the water the first day not knowing anything about boats with a cooler full of beer. This john boat was not much wider than a canoe and a stretch to call it a 12 foot boat.

 

[Pony]

Re: Tragedy at the lake last night.

Hope you guys can find them deputy.....heres to hoping they found refuge somewhere.<br /><br />Drinking a lot a beer is bad enough.......then throw in some inexpirience, a small boat, and frigid water temps, and you have a bad situation.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Tragedy at the lake last night.

How very sad.

 

[fire831]

Re: Tragedy at the lake last night.

Lets hope and pray you find them safe.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Tragedy at the lake last night.

Doesn't look good...sorry to hear about it...hope ya find 'em alive.<br /><br />People generally are just poor evaluators of risk, is why we need people like you...God bless ya for doing the hard jobs.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Tragedy at the lake last night.

Nope, not good at all. With water temps that low, they had little time in the water before exposure takes over. I pray for their families.

 

[QC]

Re: Tragedy at the lake last night.

Bummer Hoping for the best, but definitely does not sound good.<br /><br />I almost never wear a life jacket while underway. Two exceptions are when I am alone (particularly if the conditions are tough) and in especially cold water . . .

 

[JB]

Re: Tragedy at the lake last night.

 

[Braxton]

Re: Tragedy at the lake last night.

good luck to you i truely hope you find them safe.

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Tragedy at the lake last night.

I haven't made it back over yet. A few hours ago I did hear them call for an air ambulance at the lake so hopefully that's good news. I don't hold out much hope for them swimming to shore. To the south where their trailer was is about a mile, north shore is about 3/4 mile. To the west shore it is over 8 miles. Their best chance would be get to the face of the dam about 200 yards, if the boat didn't drift after they capsized. Because of the low water there are a few islands out there. Small sandbars less than 20 square feet but possibly they could reach one of those. Either way it was cold. Overnight temp on the lake was below 20 degrees. <br /><br />Will post as soon as I get back from the searech or hear some kind of news.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Tragedy at the lake last night.

Add our thoughts and prayers too.

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Tragedy at the lake last night.

Found 1 body floating about 2 feet below the surface. Only a few feet from the life jackets.<br /><br />Search continuing for #2. Bad news is the weather is turning cold and supposed to drop below 20 for the next week. The ice might halt search until the lake thaws again. <br /><br />Looks like there will be 4 young children without dads.

 

[JRJ]

Re: Tragedy at the lake last night.

Very sad indeed.

 

[magster65]

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[brother chris]

Re: Tragedy at the lake last night.

That is so sad.

 

[lark2004]

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[Braxton]

Re: Tragedy at the lake last night.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Tragedy at the lake last night.

I feel sad sad when I see such a post.<br />Didn't we discuss Life jackets before, and read all the excuses and theories.<br />To find a body a few feet from a jacket brings home a message to me.<br />If nothing can be gained from such a tragedy, then let it be, at least we should consider wearing jackets at all times.<br />Hayden is 11. We make him wear his "good" jacket at all times. Early on he asked, "why should I, you don't". <br />Since that day we all wear our jackets ALL the time, and we live in a tropical climate, and jackets are hot an uncomfortable.<br />I'm a vet, like many of you, and if there is one thing you learn, disaster never gives a warning, it happens very quickly and there is no time to even think of changing its course, and someone is dead.<br />Sorry it is long winded, but those are my views, and as calious as it seems, if you are stupid enough to be a smart axse, then........<br />I still feel deeply saddend for the victims and their surviving family/friends. Terrible.<br />Lets see if we all can't take something away from this tradgedy.<br />Cheers<br />Phillip

 

[rwise]

Re: Tragedy at the lake last night.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Tragedy at the lake last night.

Heart wrenching turn of events, 06 will be a year best forgotten for those poor families.