Center Hill Lake tragedy

A 10-year-old boy lost his life during a family outing on Center Hill Lake on Thursday, July 30, the victim of an apparent drowning.
According to reports, the child was with three other members of his family in the water on the boat ramp at Puckett’s Point when he went under. The incident occurred around noon.
Captain Dustin Johnson of the Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad said his team was summoned to the scene along with DeKalb EMS, TWRA, the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department, Corps of Engineer Rangers, and divers from the Putnam County Rescue Squad.
Captain Johnson said the rescue squad deployed its Remotely Operated Underwater (ROV) robot, and its sonar and camera capabilities identified the location of the body which was found about 30 feet off the boat ramp in 17 feet of water. Divers then went in and recovered the body which was then taken for an autopsy.
The boy’s identity was not released, but he and his family reportedly are from Smithville.

Credit: write-up and photo courtesy of WJLE Radio in Smithville.