On 04/29/2023 I, Texas Game Warden, responded to Lake Champion in Mitchell County to a potential drowning. When I arrived the victim was unresponsive on the Lake Champion dock while several bystanders were attempting CPR on him. EMS then arrived and were unsuccessful in reviving Victim. 

Other responding officers and I then started to interview witnesses to get a better understanding of how this drowning occurred. 

Subject1 stated that he and the victim were on their kayaks fishing when the winds picked up and they decided to come back to the boat ramp. Subject1 stated that he arrived at the boat ramp first and started to load his kayak onto the trailer. He looked back to the water and saw Victim was still paddling in and wasn’t far from shore. Once he finished loading his kayak, he looked back at the water and saw the victim’s kayak flipped upside down and the victim struggling to swim.  

Subject1 then began yelling for help from other bystanders at the lake. An individual heard the calls for help and ran to Subject1. Subject2 then jumped into the water and swam approximately 40 yards from the dock grabbing the victim who was just under the surface of the water. Subject2 then swam the victim back to the dock where other bystanders were able lift the victim out of the water and onto the dock where CPR was started. Witnesses stated that the victim was underwater anywhere from 8-12 minutes. 

I then examined the kayak Victim had been on. I found that he had a red in color 12’8” Diablo Amigo kayak. I noticed the seat in the kayak sat approximately 14 inches off the base of the cockpit of the kayak. After talking to Subject1, I found out that the victim had built his own seating mount that sat him higher than the original manufacturers seat that comes standard in the kayak. I later found out the recommended working weight for this model of kayak is approximately 400 LBS. At the time of death Victim weighed approximately 322 LBS.  

When examining the body of Victim, I found that he had an inflatable mustang life jacket on, but the lifejackets charge indicator was red. When opening the life jacket, I then found no CO2 canister present in the jacket. 

The weather on 04/29/2023 was approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit and NW winds at approximately 15-25 mph. 
 
It was later found that Victim had a small round puncture wound on the left side of his head that was a few inches above his left ear. This wound is believed to have occurred when lifting the victim out of the water and onto the dock. I later found a nail sticking out of the dock that matched the approximate size and shape of the puncture found. The Dallas County Medical Examiner stated that the wound occurred after death.

0156 CHAMPION CREEK
Colorado City                 