Missing 19-year-old boater recovered after falling in water, hitting propeller
Published: Apr. 29, 2025 at 1:06 PM CDT
SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KLTV/Gray News) - The body of a missing 19-year-old boater who fell into the water and hit the boat’s propeller was recovered Monday.
Authorities were called to the Lake Tyler Marina Sunday night after a 911 call reported 19-year-old Eli Swinney had fallen off the front of the boat and had been struck by the boat’s propeller after falling overboard, according to Smith County ESD 2 spokeswoman Nikki Simmons.
Authorities paused the search for him around 1:30 a.m. and resumed the search for him at 9 a.m. They recovered his body just before 11:30 a.m. Monday.
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