SAN ANTONIO — The body of an 80-year-old man who fell overboard into Calaveras Lake has been recovered, according to officials.
The Bexar County Sheriff's Office said that around 5 p.m. Sunday, the man fell overboard near the CPS Energy Power Plant dam in the 12900 block of Bernhardt Road.
The family was out boating and the elderly man was using a circular casting net when he fell overboard, according to officials.
A family member jumped in and tried to save him but was unable. There were seven people on the boat, including one child. Officials say there were enough flotation devices for everyone but only the child was wearing one.
Officials searching for 80-year-old man who fell into Calaveras Lake
The sheriff stressed the importance of always wearing a flotation device when out on a boat.
“Even the best first responders are going to be several minutes out and it’s up to you to do the right things to protect you and your family in the meantime so I can’t stress enough how important it is for you to wear those vests, even though it may not be required by law, we still want to see everybody wearing those vests. That’s my personal recommendation," said Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar.
The sheriff's office, with help from Game Wardens, and the San Antonio Fire Department all took part in the search, according to BCSO.
Anthony Soler owns Scientist Kayak Fishing. The certified fishing guide recommends that everyone, regardless of their age and the weather conditions, wear a life jacket while out on the water.
"The body goes into shock as soon as you enter the water," said Soler. "At first, you are in disbelief. Then, you will spend a lot of energy trying to resolve the problem. If you can't [get back aboard], now you have no energy and you're out of time. Even though it's not required by law for those over 13, everyone should wear a floating device. There is one that is just a thin CO2 cartridge that inflates when you hit the water. You’re not going to have any restriction, it’s just like a T-shirt."
Officials were able to recover the victim's body on Monday afternoon after searching for hours. The Bexar County sheriff said the man’s family has been notified. His family identified him as Antonio Martinez Zambrano.
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