On 12/18/2009 at approximately 7:30 p.m., a Winter Haven couple were fishing on the east side of Lake Howard when their 12 foot vessel capsized. The husband last saw his 66-year-old wife holding onto a throwable life jacket before losing sight of her. The victim’s body was recovered a short time later by rescuers with no signs of life.
Boating Fatalities in Florida 1/1/09 to date: 62
39 drowning – 19 trauma
1 undetermined
3 pending autopsy results
46 males – 16 females
42 single vessel accidents
6 accidents involving 2 or more vessels
Comparison to 2008
By this date in 2008, 51 fatalities had occurred.
