Man Drowns While Trying to Chase After Boat That Was Drifting Away. His Body Was Found at the Bottom of a Lake

Authorities said a 52-year-old man drowned arsenic he was trying to aquatics aft his boat.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) identified nan unfortunate successful a news merchandise arsenic Pierre Richard Plourde of Frostproof, Fla.

The section said nan incident occurred connected nan day of Sunday, Sept. 14, astatine Lake Clinch successful Frostproof. First responders arrived astatine nan lake’s vessel ramp aft witnesses reported a drowning. 

“Pierre Plourde was pinch his family and friends connected Lake Clinch having a awesome clip erstwhile he tragically drowned,”  Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, per nan news release. “First responders arrived quickly and utilized galore resources. We worked diligently, and we recovered him... unfortunately, we couldn't prevention his life.”

In a video posted by his section connected societal media, Judd further explained that Plourde beached his vessel adjacent a ramp. He was astatine a pavilion erstwhile he noticed nan vessel floating retired into nan water. 

“He ran down,” Judd said of Plourde, “got into nan reservoir and was swimming to nan vessel erstwhile he went under.”

Judd added that a friend tried to rescue nan unfortunate and that witnesses heard Plourde screaming for thief until he vanished successful nan water.

The PCSO marine portion recovered Plourde’s assemblage astatine nan bottommost of nan lake, astir 150 yards disconnected shore, done side-scan radar and an underwater drone.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t prevention his life,” Judd said successful nan video. “It’s a calamity connected a Sunday day successful Frostproof.”

The PCSO said it is conducting an investigation into Plourde’s death.

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Located successful cardinal Florida, nan metropolis of Frostproof has a organization of 2,877, according to U.S. Census data.