Ridgeville, al - A family fishing trip ended in tragedy this morning in Etowah County near Attalla. A small boat capsized on a pond sending a man overboard. He never re-surfaced. It's a story we first reported this morning on our midday newscast.

The private pond in the Ridgeville community was the vacation destination for a man from Jackson, Mississippi. It's also where he died.

Natalie Barton with the Etowah County Sheriff's Department explains "He was here visiting some relatives. He also has some relatives here in the Huntsville area and they had come down to the family pond to go fishing."

By mid-morning 66-year old Sylvester Vickers drowned in the family's pond. It's about the size of a football field but it's deep... fifteen feet. When Vickers stood up in this small paddleboat to cast his rod, he slipped. His brother watched him fall overboard.

According to Barton, "He re-surfaced for just a short time. And then went back under and did not resurface."

A frantic 9-11 call alerted rescue crews at 8:16 am. After about two hours of searching underwater family members saw the dive crew hoist Vickers' body ashore. His sister-in-law says he could swim, but Vickers was not wearing a life jacket.

Barton adds, "Any time you're near water, even if you're just on the pond fishing you can fall in so easily just like Mr. Vickers today. And if you are clothed that does weight you down more than just in a bathing suit so we do encourage everyone to wear a life jacket when you're near the water."

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