Friend discovers missing angler’s pole, North Carolina cops say. Body found days later
A North Carolina angler discovered his missing friend’s fishing pole days before he was found dead, officials said.
The two friends were near a lake July 22 when one of them — 29-year-old Kyle Zachary Moberly — became interested in getting into the water. He “wanted to swim to the other side of the cove so he could fish and did not want to walk the trail to get there,” according to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office
Meanwhile, Moberly’s friend kept fishing from the original spot. When it was time to leave, he didn’t see Moberly in the woods “but found his fishing pole,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a news release.
Deputies said Moberly disappeared from the Buddle Creek Access Area, near High Rock Lake in Lexington. The region, roughly 35 miles south of Winston-Salem, is known for boating and fishing opportunities.
At about 9 p.m. July 22, first responders were called to the area for a possible drowning. They started using boats, sonar technology and foot searches to look for the missing fisherman. After two days of searching, a 911 caller reported seeing a body.
The man was pulled from the water and identified as Moberly, who was from Lexington. No foul play is suspected in his death, deputies told McClatchy News in an email.
Drowning
At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children.
Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water.
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment.
“Don’t hesitate to get out of the water if something doesn’t feel right,” the group said on its website. “Whether it’s that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. It’s always a good thing to trust your instincts.”
This story was originally published July 28, 2023 at 5:39 AM with the headline "Friend discovers missing angler’s pole, North Carolina cops say. Body found days later."
