North Carolina fisherman drowns in Va.'s Pagan River

The Associated Press

SMITHFIELD, Va. --

A North Carolina fisherman drowned Friday in the Pagan River after falling from the boat while fishing with a friend, authorities said.

Bobby Whitley, 71, of Rocky Mount, N.C., fell from the boat around 2 p.m., said John Bull, spokesman for the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Pedestrians on a marina dock about 75 feet away pulled Whitley from the water and attempted to resuscitate him to no avail.

Whitley was pronounced dead at Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk shortly after 5 p.m.

Neither Whitley nor his friend could swim, and they were not wearing life vests, Bull said. The boat also did not contain a required throwable flotation device.

The drowning is considered accidental.


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