Investigators are still trying to determine exactly what went wrong for a 60-year-old man who lost his life while fishing from his boat on the Choptank River.
Around 8:30 Saturday evening, Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) and Coast Guard watch standers got a report for an overdue boater. According to officers, Franklin Stewart Jr., was fishing on the river and failed to return to the boat ramp when scheduled. He was wearing a red jacket and jeans.
NRP, Coast Guard Station Oxford, Talbot County Fire-Rescue and Rescue Fire Company Cambridge all responded and began to search for Stewart. Coast Guard Station Oxford crews found his 14-foot aluminum boat run aground in the marsh near Oyster Shell Point. The motor was still running and fishing gear was still in the water, but Stewart was not aboard.
On Sunday morning around 10:50 a.m., the NRP helicopter located Stewart’s body and officers on the water recovered him. The Coast Guard reports that he didn’t have a life jacket.
Stewart’s body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner as the investigation continues, according to NRP.
-Meg Walburn Viviano
