By MELANIE NELSON
Staff Writer
MEREDITH — Divers resumed their search on the northern part of Lake
Winnisquam this morning for a missing boater who is believed to have drowned.
Authorities were not releasing the boater’s name, but The Citizen
learned today that the presumed victim was an off-duty Gilford police officer.
Fish and Game Lt. Bob Bryant said the missing boater had been seen fishing
alone in the vicinity of Three Islands.
Somehow the man fell out of his boat. Residents along the nearby shore heard
yelling, Bryant explained.
The area in which the officer was fishing is estimated to be about 40 feet
deep.
They saw the 12 foot aluminum Star Kraft fishing boat going in circles and
immediately proceeded to the area in kayaks in an attempt to reach the man.
However, he had gone under the water before the kayakers could reach him.
Bryant said Wednesday night investigators had no information as to how the
officer fell out of his boat.
"We can make all kinds of speculations, but there were no eyewitnesses," he
said.
Fish and Game officers, Marine Patrol, Meredith Police and Fire Departments
as well as State Police spent until dark yesterday searching for the officer,
but did not find him.
Bryant said State Police flew over the area in a helicopter in case he had
come to the surface.
