Search crews recover man’s body from Lake LBJ; victim had been swimming from boat
FROM STAFF REPORTS
SUNRISE BEACH — Search and rescue crews located the body of a man on Aug. 10 in Lake LBJ after he had gone missing the day before while swimming from a boat.
He was identified as 74-year-old William Thornton Jr. of Harlingen.
Sunrise Beach Police Chief Laurie Brock stated that a caller reported a man was swimming off a boat at about 7:45 p.m. Aug. 9 and began having trouble in the water. The caller told the Llano County Sheriff’s Office dispatch that the man had gone underwater and hadn’t resurfaced.
Sunrise Beach police and Sunrise Beach Volunteer Fire Department units responded to the end of Beach Drive at Lake LBJ and began searching for Thornton. Other agencies, including the Llano County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Lower Colorado River Authority, and the Kingsland and Buchanan volunteer fire departments assisted.
Divers also entered the water to search for the man.
Brock stated the initial search and rescue was called off at 11:30 p.m. Aug. 9 after searchers didn’t find Thornton.
The search and recovery efforts resumed at 6:30 a.m. Aug. 10 with the same agencies returning. A Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter arrived to assist with the search.
At 11:30 a.m., authorities recovered Thornton’s body.
editor@thepicayune.com