Rescued man goes back for boat hours later, drowns

SEMINOLE — Hours after being rescued, a 39-year-old man died in Lake Seminole on Friday while trying to recover his boat from the water.

Seminole Fire Rescue first responded to a disabled vessel taking on water with occupants onboard on Friday around 2:17 p.m. Deputies found Shawn Thomas and Alexandra Dumervil, 37, in Lake Seminole at 10015 Park Blvd. and safely brought them to shore, Pinellas sheriff ’s deputies said in a media release.

Facebook posts show that Thomas was the pastor of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in St. Petersburg.

Later in the day, Thomas called his friend, 74-yearold Joe Wright, to help him retrieve the boat. Wright used his boat to take Thomas back onto the lake. After the 39-year-old returned onto his own vessel, it capsized and he slipped into the water, deputies said.

Wright tried to rescue Thomas, but lost sight of his friend, who was not wearing a life vest.

After receiving multiple calls around 5:42 p.m. about a man drowning in Lake Seminole, deputies enlisted marine, flight and dive units to search for Thomas.

His body was located at 9:47 p.m., about 10 yards away from where he was last seen.

Deputies said drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor in the incident.