Alabama man killed when boat sinks yards from ramp, state police say

An elderly Alabama man was killed Wednesday morning when his boat sank just 15 yards from a boat ramp on a lake, state police said.

The marine-related incident occurred at approximately 8 a.m. Wednesday, and claimed the life of a Town Creek, Alabama, man.

Edward Whitmire, 86, was attempting to exit Wheeler Lake at the boat ramp near the Cowford Boat Campground in Limestone County when the vessel he was on began to sink and eventually capsized.

Whitmire went below the water’s surface approximately 15 yards from the boat ramp and never resurfaced. Whitmire’s body was recovered at approximately 1:10 p.m. near the location where he went missing.

The following agencies responded and assisted in the search and recovery effort: the Florence Police Department’s Dive Team, Limestone County Sheriff’s Office, Limestone County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Morgan County Rescue Squad, Athens Fire Department along with Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Marine Patrol Division. Nothing further is available as ALEA Marine Patrol Troopers continue to investigate.