SAN ANTONIO – The body of an 80-year-old man was recovered from Calaveras Lake on Monday, a day after he fell overboard.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar and Bexar County ESD 10 Fire Chief Robert Hogan said the man was found after 11 a.m., about 25 feet away from where the original call came in.
His body was near an embankment and it appeared he was caught in a casting net, Hogan said.
The man’s family has been notified. While authorities have not released his name, his family identified him as Antonio Martinez Zambrano.
Zambrano fell into the water at around 5 p.m. Sunday while he and six others were fishing in a boat at the lake, which is located in southeast Bexar County.
Salazar said Zambrano was using a casting net when he lost his balance. The net was wrapped around his wrist, and a family member jumped in the water to try and save him.
Authorities used sonar to search in an area that was the length of a football field, in a depth that ranged from 4-12 feet.
They did not deploy divers, Hogan said, because the water was too murky.
Salazar and Hogan stressed the importance of using life jackets while boating, even for adults.
In Texas, children under 13 years old must wear a life jacket while on a boat that’s less than 26 feet long, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Adults must also have a properly fitting life jacket that is easily accessible.