Drowning Victim Recovered From Canadian River

Saturday, June 9th 2007, 2:39 pm

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) -- The body of a 39-year-old man was recovered from the Canadian River Saturday about two hours after he slipped beneath the surface while fishing in Muskogee County, authorities said.

The body of Mac Barton of Stigler was pulled from the river at 11 a.m. about 20 feet from where the victim was last seen alive, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said. The victim's body was recovered from water about eight feet deep, troopers said.

Authorities were notified about 9 a.m. that Barton had disappeared in the river about two miles north of Whitefield.

The patrol said the victim was "striper" fishing in about 3 feet of water when he stepped off a ledge into deeper water. The victim never resurfaced, troopers said.