Police: Man likely drowned in Falcon lake

NEAR ZAPATA — Authorities surveyed the bottom of the International Falcon Reservoir to try to find a man who likely drowned after his boat capsized Monday afternoon.

Four officers in two boats were dragging the general area near the location where the boat went under Monday afternoon, said Capt. Fernando Cervantes of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department office in Zapata.

There were four others in the boat when the man went missing Monday, but they were able to cling to floating debris in the lake before making it to safety, Cervantes said.

"They saw him go under and come back up," Cervantes said of the four survivors. "We are assuming that he is indeed drowned."

None of the boaters were wearing life jackets when the boat capsized. Authorities were able to locate the vessel at the bottom of the lake Tuesday.

Dead brush beneath the water's surface has made it difficult for officers to drag the bottom of the lake in their search, Cervantes said.

Authorities know the identity of the missing man but refused to release his name Tuesday afternoon.

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Jared Taylor covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4439.