Operator and victim were fishing when victim/passenger stood to cast, tipping the boat, causing both occupants to fall overboard.  Operator was able to swim to shore and passenger attempted to swim to shore but did not make it.  Both were under the influence of alcohol.

Witness had talked to both victim and passenger earlier about them going fishing and noticed they were drinking beer.  Witness went for an errand and when he came back by the lake he noticed the boat on the water but empty and he heard screaming for help.  He then jumped into the water and began to swim to where he saw victim still attempting to swim to shore.   However, witness was not strong swimmer and he had to turn around back to shore. He tried again to locate an access point closer to the victim.  He then saw Operator and helped him sit at the base of a tree.  Witness then turned his attention to the victim still in the water and started waiding through muck but was not able to gain access to the lake.  He did observe victim move but also saw his head go under several times.  He could not see very well because of the height of the weeds.  Witness's wife had observed it from shore and said it looked as if victim was trying to swim to shore.  His head was bobbing in the water like he was swimming.  He then went under for a minute and when he came back up he was floating.  She called 911.
Fairplain Township            