On the Scene: Dyess Airman Drowns at Lake Fort Phantom Hill
By: Nora Hartfeil
Updated: June 3, 2012
What was supposed to be a fun day at the lake with
friends, ended in tragedy. An Airman assigned to the Dyess Air Force Base drowned on the west side of Lake Fort Phantom Hill after his kayak
flipped over.
Police received the emergency call at 8:46 p.m., "The game warden is here with a boat, the lake patrol here as well", said Officer Spindler, APD.
Crystal Little was a witness fishing nearby and said the man's three friends ran into the water to save him, but began to struggle themselves. "He flipped his kayak and then hollered for help. But everybody was really too far away from him. His girlfriend and three others started swimming out to him and tried to scream out to him to tell him how to get back into the kayak. But about five minutes before they even got to him, he went down", says Little.
Little says that is when her son, Trevor, ran in after them with a styrofoam raft to help the situation, "The three people, there was a woman and two men, held onto the raft, and my son slowly paddled them all the way back".
The Airman was found and pronounced deceased at 12:25 a.m. early Sunday. We were told no alcohol was involved in the situation. Police are continuing their investigations.
The Airman's name will not be released until next of kin have been notified.
Police received the emergency call at 8:46 p.m., "The game warden is here with a boat, the lake patrol here as well", said Officer Spindler, APD.
Crystal Little was a witness fishing nearby and said the man's three friends ran into the water to save him, but began to struggle themselves. "He flipped his kayak and then hollered for help. But everybody was really too far away from him. His girlfriend and three others started swimming out to him and tried to scream out to him to tell him how to get back into the kayak. But about five minutes before they even got to him, he went down", says Little.
Little says that is when her son, Trevor, ran in after them with a styrofoam raft to help the situation, "The three people, there was a woman and two men, held onto the raft, and my son slowly paddled them all the way back".
The Airman was found and pronounced deceased at 12:25 a.m. early Sunday. We were told no alcohol was involved in the situation. Police are continuing their investigations.
The Airman's name will not be released until next of kin have been notified.
