A tragic incident occurred off the west coast of Florida, resulting in the death of a 66-year-old man during a fishing trip with a friend. The unfortunate event took place around 11:40 a.m. on Wednesday, approximately two miles north of the Dunedin Causeway in the Intercoastal Waterway, as reported by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
The victim, identified as Charles Barnes, was fishing with his friend, William Coughenour, near Three Rooker Island on a 17-foot Key West boat. Barnes was seated at the front of the boat on a cooler while Coughenour was operating the vessel.
According to the sheriff's office, the accident occurred when Coughenour momentarily released the steering wheel to attend to a fishing pole, causing the boat to sharply turn right, throwing both men into the water. While Coughenour managed to swim back to the boat, Barnes was tragically struck by the vessel and pulled underwater after his arm became entangled in the propellers.
Despite Coughenour's efforts to rescue Barnes and seeking assistance from other boaters, the victim could not be saved. Emergency responders arrived at the scene and pronounced Barnes dead.
The sheriff's office investigation concluded that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident, and impairment was ruled out as a contributing factor. This unfortunate boating accident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety measures and vigilance while out on the water.
