A Beaverdam man died while fishing in White Marsh near Whiteville Thursday morning.
Charles D. Godwin, 72, was found floating under the bridge on U.S. 74, in the area near Red Hill Road known as the Beaver Ponds. Wildlife Enforcement Officer S. Hawrysch said in his report that Godwin and Robert Simmons were headed back upstream when Simmons pulled his boat to the south bank to take a break. He handed Godwin his fishing rod, the report said, told him to keep fishing, and to head under the bridge.
Simmons told the officer that about 15 to 20 minutes after he saw Simmons under the bridge, he saw a one-man boat overturned in the water.
“Simmons called out for Godwin (and did not get) an answer,” the report said, “and noticed an object that resembled a body face down floating under the bridge.”
Simmons pulled Godwin to the bank and called 911. Godwin was pronounced dead at Columbus Regional.
Wildlife officers recovered Simmons’ boat, the report said, and found a personal floatation device on board. Godwin was not wearing a PFD when he was fishing, the report said.
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