A Georgia man is dead after a fishing trip with a friend ended in drowning.
Horace Gilbert, 76, was pronounced dead on Tuesday, April 22, after his body was recovered from Lake Eufaula.
The deceased had gone fishing Monday, April 21 night with a friend near a cove called Mouth of the Creek, but lost his balance while attempting to bring up the anchor to drive back to the boat ramp, WTVM reported.
His friend, who saw him go headfirst under the water, called police around 11 p.m. local time when Gilbert never resurfaced.
According to Gilbert’s brother-in-law, Charles Brown, the pair fishing late at night was not out of the ordinary.
“We generally fish at night. We use the light to draw in the crappie that we fish for,” said Brown. “He’s been doing this for quite some time, since a kid probably. I moved down here 12 years ago. He taught me how to fish.”
The lake was approximately 36 feet deep where Gilbert went missing. Divers had to use sonar equipment to recover his body, Chris Ball, president of Houston County Rescue said.
“There’s a pretty steep drop off. It goes from about 10 feet to 30 feet in a very short period of time,” Ball told WTVM. “He was found right off of that edge.”
Ball also stressed the importance of water safety, such as wearing life jackets when doing activities like fishing.
“We can’t say it enough. I know they don’t look cool. I know they’re hot. I know people don’t like to wear them but literally life jackets will prevent this from happening,” he told the news station. “If you’re going to be on the water, no matter how good of a swimmer you think you are, wear a life jacket.”
Loved ones remembered the 76-year-old, who was an active member of his church, through an online obituary shared by Perkins Funeral Service.
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“To the Gilbert family. I am deeply sorry and grieved to hear that my friend and brother has transitioned from justice to reward,” Deacon Darryl Williams wrote.
“I shared so many laughs and stories with Mr. Horace. He was truly a father figure to me and others. I wish I could’ve fished with him more often. Family; know that Mr. Horace was a real man of GOD that loved everyone,” his church member said. “I personally will miss him, but will cherish all the many good times we shared together. I bid you farewell Brother. We will keep putem in the boat til we meet on that peaceful shore.”
According to the obituary, funeral services will be announced at a later time.
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