A Seminole County man died in Brinson while fishing on Spring Creek Sunday afternoon in what police are calling an accidental drowning.
Johnny Dale McKinney, 51, was fishing with friend Edrick Davis on Spring Creek near Lane Bridge Road when McKinney reportedly fell into the water from a steep embankment when he said he had a fish bite the line.
Captain Patrick Trolinger with the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department said the embankment was close to 10-feet deep and the water in the creek was high on Sunday due to recent rain levels.
“The victim yelled out that he had caught a fish and the partner put his pole down,” Trolinger said. “By the time he rounded the corner, the victim had already slipped into the water and was trying to stay above the water. Davis said within seconds McKinney went under water.”
Davis then notified authorities at 4:25 p.m. and the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Department arrived on the scene. The Department of Natural Resources and an off-duty officer who had a boat helped to recover the victim from the water. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene sometime after 6 p.m. about 10 feet from where he fell in, Trolinger said.