LAKE TAWAKONI, Texas - A missing boater was found alive Saturday morning after a large-scale, multi-agency search on Lake Tawakoni involving fire departments, law enforcement agencies, drone teams and Texas Game Wardens.
The Tawakoni Volunteer Fire Department received a report of a boating accident at approximately 7:04 a.m. on July 25 and immediately dispatched Boat 114 to the reported location.
When rescue crews arrived, they located the vessel involved in the accident but found no one aboard. Firefighters immediately began conducting a grid search of the surrounding area in an effort to locate the missing boater.
After several minutes without locating the individual, Tawakoni Fire Chief 114 requested additional resources to expand the search.
Responding agencies included the Texas Game Wardens, West Tawakoni Police Department Drone Unit, Tawakoni South Volunteer Fire Department, Air Evac 67, Flight For Life, Hunt County Sheriff's Office Drone Team and the Emory Fire Department Drone Team.
The agencies worked together using boats, drones and aerial resources to search a large area of the lake.
At approximately 9:52 a.m., nearly three hours after the initial call, a Texas Game Warden boat located the missing boater in the water.
The individual was conscious but suffering from exhaustion, muscle cramping, bruising and several minor lacerations.
The boater was transported to the command post established at the Sky Point RV Park boat ramp, where paramedics with Hunt County AMR evaluated the patient.
Authorities said the boater declined transportation to a hospital after being medically assessed and was later reunited with the vessel. Officials expect the individual to make a full recovery.
The Tawakoni Volunteer Fire Department credited the successful rescue to the coordinated efforts of all responding agencies and the rapid deployment of specialized water and aerial search resources.
The Emory Volunteer Fire Department also praised the collaborative response, saying the boater was located quickly because of effective communication, teamwork and the prompt deployment of personnel and equipment. Officials said the incident demonstrates the importance of interagency cooperation during water rescue emergencies.
