Posted 2:19 am Saturday, September 19, 2009
Fisherman Who Fell Out Of Boat Still Not Found
By COSHANDRA DILLARD
Staff Writer
QUITMAN -- Rescue officials worked until dark Friday to recover the body of a fisherman who went under water after he fell out of his boat at Lake Fork in Wood County.
Staff Writer
QUITMAN -- Rescue officials worked until dark Friday to recover the body of a fisherman who went under water after he fell out of his boat at Lake Fork in Wood County.
Randy Selman, Wood County emergency management coordinator, said the incident happened around 6:15 a.m., as the McDonald's Big Bass Splash Tournament was about to begin nearby at Lake Fork Marina. The victim and a friend were in a boat when he fell in at the southwestern portion of the lake, near Alba. Officials said the friend attempted to rescue the man but was unsuccessful.
Officials from Northeast Texas Search and Recovery Team, Quitman Fire Department and Wood County Sheriff's department assisted Game Warden Kirk Kelley in its efforts to locate the man, whose identity has not been released.
By 4:30 p.m. eight divers were preparing to head to a 300-yard area and rescue teams had the use of two side boom sonar boats to help pick up shadows from the bottom of the lake.
The area where the man fell into the water ranged from three feet to 40 feet deep. Selman noted that the rugged area may have hindered recovery efforts.
"The water is calm but it's really stumpy because there are lots of trees," he said.
The annual three-day tournament has not been canceled and is expected to draw about 5,000 people from across Texas and neighboring states.
In the meantime, crews will return today to continue efforts to find the fisherman.
"We'll work till dark and we'll be back in the morning. We'll be here for however long it takes," Selman said.
