Rescuers find body of missing boater at Lake Wylie
Crews continued searching for a boater who was reported missing after an accident on Lake Wylie Wednesday night, and the boater’s body was found.
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First responders first headed to the lake around 7:40 p.m. Tuesday near the Catawba Yacht Club to look for Jim Cook.
According to Chief Chris Hardin with the Steele Creek Fire Department, the call went out as a possible drowning after a boating accident. Witnesses told first responders that a rowing-style boat was involved, and that one person was missing.
Channel 9 learned that the missing boater’s name is Jim Cook. His ex-wife contacted Channel 9 and sent in recent pictures of Cook.
Crews Wednesday focused their efforts on the part of the lake near Youngblood Road West and Here At Last Lane.
Around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, crews found Cook’s body.
Cook’s family is trying to figure out what happened. Others are hoping the family is able to find answers.
“We heard that something had happened up there and none of us didn’t know what was going on,” Paul McClure said.
McClure was fishing near the Buster Boyd Bridge Tuesday night when he heard emergency workers looking for Cook.
“We seen the Newport Rescue go by, then we seen the police go by,” McClure said.
Crews searched for him for 3 hours Tuesday night with no success.
“I really hate that for the family,” McClure said.
Anyone in the area is asked to use caution to allow the search teams to do their job safely.
This is a developing story, check back at wsoctv.com for updates.
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