1-year-old drowns in Fontana Lake after boat capsizes; NC Wildlife officers investigating

State officers are investigating after a boat capsized on Fontana Lake July 27, causing a 1-year-old to drown, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

Around 5 p.m. July 27, a wildlife commission officer received report of a distressed vessel with a missing infant on the lake between Cable Cove and Fontana Dam on the Swain-Graham county border. When officers arrived, they saw a capsized Tri-Toon being towed by another vessel close to the incident area, according to a news release from the wildlife commission.

The adult boaters told officers there were eight people on the vessel and three were being towed on a high-back tube when the boat capsized. All the occupants were thrown into the water, the release said.

The adults were able to get all the children back onto the boat but couldn't locate the 1-year-old baby boy, according to wildlife officials.

Nearby boaters helped search for the infant. One of the boaters found him and pulled him out of the water, according to the release.

"CPR was immediately started, and an (automated external defibrillator) was used once they arrived at the shoreline before transport to the hospital," the release said. "All attempts to revive the infant were unsuccessful."

All children, including the infant, were wearing personal floatation devices, according to statements from the adults.

All the occupants were taken to shore and transported to Swain County Hospital. Wildlife commission officers also responded to the hospital to interview the occupants, the release said.

This incident remains under investigation. No names of the boaters or indication of how the boat capsized have been released.

This story will be updated.

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Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: 1-year-old drowns in Fontana Lake after boat capsizes; NC Wildlife officers investigating