Sheriff's Office received a report of a boat circling on the lake, off the west shoreline, with a dog in it but no operator. The boat owner's wife was contacted, and she said her husband and dog had gone out fishing between 0730 - 0800 hrs. that morning. 

Deputies eventually were able to gain control of the boat. During this process, the dog had become frightened and jumped from the boat before deputies could secure it. The dog was recovered from the water, but he had been hit by the prop at least three times. 

Meanwhile, an investigator from the Sheriff's Office interviewed the reporting party. He said he was on the shoreline and had seen the boat troll past him with the Operator sitting and the dog standing in the boat. 

They had gone about a quarter mile past him before the Operator had stood up and reeled in his line before he began to accelerate in a southeasterly direction. The witness looked away and when he looked back, he only saw the dog in the boat and the boat begin to spin in a circular pattern at a fast pace. 

There was no sign of the Operator. Search and Rescue was able to tighten their search pattern with this information. The Operator's body was finally located at the bottom of the lake at a depth of approximately 32 feet. One arm had been struck by the propeller. It is unknown what caused him to fall overboard/be ejected from the boat. He was not wearing a life jacket. Alcohol was not a factor. There was no damage to the boat.

Swan
Pengilly                      