Hobart man believed drowned in Lake Thunderbird

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ A 54 year-old Hobart man jumped off a boat at Lake Thunderbird and never re-emerged from the water, officials said. <br/><br/>Ronnie Dean was boating with friends at about 2 p.m. Saturday

Sunday, June 12th 2005, 11:45 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ A 54 year-old Hobart man jumped off a boat at Lake Thunderbird and never re-emerged from the water, officials said.

Ronnie Dean was boating with friends at about 2 p.m. Saturday when he leaped off the boat. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol's Lake Patrol dragged a 300-yard radius around where Dean was last seen, but did not find him before it got dark Saturday.

``He jumped off the back of the boat to go to the bathroom _ he was hot _ and he didn't have his lifejacket on,'' said Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Kurt McKean.

Two of Dean's friends jumped into the lake to try to save him.

``We're lucky we didn't have three drowning victims,'' McKean said. ``Of course, no one had a life jacket on. ... Normally the person who's trying to be the lifesaver will drown as well.''

Troopers said alcohol may have been a factor in the accident.