A Wednesday morning 911 call brought several agencies to a boat launch at Cowford Campground.
The Limestone County Sheriff's Office says the call came in just after 8 a.m. for a boat and occupant in distress.
Authorities say two people were on that boat and one made it to shore. The other was lost in the water.
Nearly five hours later, a man was found deceased a few yards from the submerged boat. State Troopers identified him as 86-year-old Edward Whitmire, of Town Creek. Troopers say Whitmire was attempting to exit Wheeler Lake at the boat ramp near the Cowford Boat Campground when the vessel he was on began to sink and eventually capsized.
The boat was removed from the water Wednesday afternoon.
Sergeant Tyler Melton with the Florence Police Department says it was a hard day for everyone involved. “This was a man that loved fishing and he went out by fishing,†Melton said. “It’s never really a happy day when you have to go find somebody.â€
Melton says everyone on scene from witnesses to law enforcement worked to help locate the missing man. The Florence Police Department's Dive Team, Limestone County Sheriff's Office, Limestone County EMA, Morgan County Rescue Squad, Athens Fire, along with ALEA's Marine Patrol Division responded and assisted in the search and recovery efforts.Â
ALEA Marine Patrol Troopers is now handling this investigation.
