Man drowns during fishing trip Wednesday

By Staff
Melissa Cason
A Franklin County man drown Wednesday morning after his boat capsized during a fishing trip on Frazier Lake.
Franklin County Sheriff Larry Plott said Joe Watkins, 49, of 34 Mountain Brook Road in Russellville, was fishing with his nephew when he reached to grab a jug out of the water. The weight shift caused the boat to capsize, forcing Watkins into the water.
Reports said Watkins' nephew tried to locate him quickly, but was unsuccessful.
The Tharptown Volunteer Fire Department, the Franklin County Sheriff's Department, the Franklin County Technical Response Dive Team, and Pleasant Bay Ambulance were dispatched to the scene around 10:24 a.m.
"We were dispatched out at 10:24 this morning," Tharptown Volunteer firefighter Janice Pennington said.
Pennington said members of the fire department immediately gained access to a boat and floated to the scene where the boat capsized. There was no sign of Watkins.
The Franklin Technical Response Dive Team called for help from the Colbert County Technical Response Dive Team for use of their equipment. Within minutes of being on the scene, Watkins' body was recovered and brought to the surface by divers.
Officials said Watkins was found in 9 and half feet of water near place the boat capsized.
Pennington said it was well known that Watkins could not swim, which caused him to drown after being tossed into the water.
"There was no sign of any trauma to the body," Coroner Elzie Malone said. "He just could not swim."
Frazier Lake is located off of County Road 48, near the Tharptown Community.