Way too close to home! Two 17 year olds, including Drew, a step-nephew of mine, duck hunted a big natural lake near here Saturday morning. Both were wearing waders and no life jackets. One of the kids dropped off my nephew in waders in a shallow bay with some decoys. The other boy left in the boat and went out of my nephew's site around a grass point; the next my nephew noticed the boat was running circles.
Drew had no phone and it was impossible to wade out of the water or around to where his companion had apparently fallen out of the boat. He did have the presence of mind, though to fire his gun repeatedly and call toward some nearby houses on a golf course which borders the lake. After two hours a lady noticed and told her husband she thought she had heard calls for help from a hunter. Someone made a 911 call and the authoriies arrived. Drew was picked up and the boat was run down and found empty.
The search effort went on all yesterday afternoon, and at dusk was taken over by the Air Force's Search and Rescue unit which is based at local Moody AFB. The lost boy's dad is a recently retired high ranking officer. The search includes two sonar boats, a dive team, and a helicopter with all the most advanced equiptment, but no sign of the victem has been found. The sheriff's department thoroughly searched the woods surrounding the lake yesterday in case he had made it out of the water, and again this morning.
The boy's family as well as my brother and his family are still hoping against hope for a miracle. Your prayers, hopes, or just 'good vibrations' will be appreciated...Geo
