McAlester man drowns in Lake Eufaula

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) _ An 80-year-old McAlester man drowned after trying to swim ashore from a disabled boat, authorities said. <br><br>A passerby found J.D. Edmonds floating about 100 feet from the south

Tuesday, August 19th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) _ An 80-year-old McAlester man drowned after trying to swim ashore from a disabled boat, authorities said.

A passerby found J.D. Edmonds floating about 100 feet from the south shore of Eufaula Lake in Pittsburg County about 3:30 p.m. Monday, the Oklahoma Lake Patrol reported.

The boat Edmonds was on broke down and he got off to attempt repairs, the patrol said. When Edmonds couldn't fix the problem, he tried to swim ashore to get help.

His body was found in about 20 feet of water around 5:30 p.m., the patrol said.

Lake patrol and Pittsburg County authorities recovered his body about 5:43 p.m., officials said.