By Staff
ST. JOSEPH - A 26-year-old landscaper who lived with friends in Dowagiac drowned Oct. 28 when a paddleboat he was riding in with two friends sank at Paw Paw Lake, near 7772 Center St., Coloma Township.
Lt. Milford Russell of the Berrien County Sheriff's Department on Tuesday identified the deceased as Melecio Alvarado Eulogio.
Russell reported the drowning occurred at 1:38 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28.
Eulogio and two friends, Rosendo Martinez-Diaz, 24, of Dowagiac, and Jaime Morales Franco, 25, of Dowagiac, were working at the shoreline address.
During a lunch break, the three decided to go for a boat ride.
The craft used was a two-person paddleboat located near the dock of the house at which they were working.
It is unknown if they had permission to use the boat. Russell said the paddleboat's owner remains unknown.
The surviving passengers do not speak English and gave statements through a bilingual deputy sheriff.
They reported that after traveling a short distance, they decided to return to shore.
The boat was taking on water and beginning to list. All three tumbled into the water about 100 feet from shore in water that was reportedly over their heads. The other two made it to shore, but the victim couldn't swim, according to his friends.
Franco and another co-worker, Ron Lambrecht, 38, of Coloma, returned to the water in a rowboat borrowed from a nearby home.
Using paddles, they were able to locate Eulogio.
Lambrecht was able to pull the victim from the bottom using his feet.
By this time, Coloma Fire/Rescue units had arrived. Two of their members also entered the water and were able to bring out Eulogio.
The victim was transported to Watervliet Community Hospital and pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m.
None of the three had life jackets on.
After the paddleboat was pulled from the water, damage was found that would have caused water to enter the hull.
His family lives in Mexico.
Russell said authorities were finally able to notify next of kin when a sister-in-law from North Dakota contacted the hospital.