> SOUTHERN INDIANA —
The body of the missing commercial fisherman who drowned in the Ohio River Thursday morning was discovered on Friday afternoon.
Richard Hovis II, 34, of Birdseye in Dubois County, was spotted by men who were working on a small barge about one mile from the Horseshoe Casino, Indiana Conservation Officer Mac Spainhour said.
Spainhour estimated the body floated about eight or nine miles in about a day and a half. Officials were surprised to find him so far down river.
Hovis was one of three men on a flat-bottomed commercial fishing boat about 100 yards west of the Sherman Minton Bridge and 25 or 30 yards from the New Albany shoreline when he apparently had a medical emergency and fell overboard. Spainhour said Hovis was dropping a hook for a fishing net at about 10:25 a.m.
Another man on the boat heard Hovis gasp for air and then fall straight into the water. He was not wearing a life jacket and sank immediately.
A man on the coast called 911, and the Coast Guard received a mayday call. Louisville Metro Fire and Rescue had divers in the water within about 45 minutes but mostly searched the area near the bridge.
Spainhour said he believes Hovis either had a heart attack or a grand mal seizure. Family members said he had a history of seizures but had not had one for a long time.
Spainhour did not know if the coroner would request an autopsy.
“This is just a tragic accident. You never know when you’re going to have a grand mal seizure,” Spainhour said.
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