(Operator) and his father (Passenger) were paddling a 17 foot canoe (V1) on the Rainbow River in Dunnellon. Passenger was sitting in the front and rocking the boat. Operator thought he was acting strange. Suddenly V1 tipped over ejecting both people. Operator immediately went over to his father and found him unresponsive. He was not breathing. Passenger was taken to the shore with the help of several Good Samaritans. EMS arrived and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Passenger had a history of cardiac problems and had a pacemaker and defibrilator. No one was wearing a life jackets The Medical Examiner listed the cause of death as drowning.

the cause of death as drowning with a contributing factor of Artherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. There were no physical signs of trauma. The victim was on numerous medications and had previously had heart surgery. The victim was not wearing a life jacket

DUNNELLON                     