A United Kingdom man drowned after his kayak overturned Friday afternoon on Norfork Lake. According to Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery, 71-year-old Jim Colbert was pronounced dead at Baxter Regional Medical Center.
Sheriff’s deputies, first responders from the Salesville Fire Department, rangers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and BRMC ambulance personnel from responded after Baxter County 9-1-1 Dispatch received a call just after 2:30 of a possible drowning near the boat launching ramp at Norfork Dam. Witnesses told authorities Colbert and a relative were in kayaks on the lake as other family members were on the shore nearby. The kayakers attempted to return to the shore when the storm hit, but the high winds caused Colbert’s kayak to overturn. Family members were able to get him to the shore, but he was unresponsive. CPR was started by family members until emergency personnel arrived. Colbert was transported to the hospital where he later died.
It is believed Colbert was sitting on his life jacket but not wearing it.
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