NORMAN — The body of a Newalla man was found in a partially submerged fishing boat on Lake Thunderbird Friday morning.
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The Oklahoma Highway Patrol identified the man as Michael S. Stevens, 52.
A cause of death has not been determined, but it appears the man died of natural causes, Assistant Park Manager Terry Gibson said.
"It looks like he was camping, fishing and possibly had a heart attack or stroke,” Gibson said.
The boat was found in a cove, about 16 feet from shore in 10 feet of water in the Hog Creek arm of the lake. A man and his grandson boating in the area spotted the partially submerged boat about 9:15 a.m., Gibson said.
Gibson said he did not know how long the boat had been there, but it appears the boat hit a stump, knocking a hole in it and causing it to fill up with water.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers in a rescue boat attempted to pull the boat from the water, but gave up, fearing the boat would sink. They planned to secure the boat until a larger boat could be brought in to pull it out.
Two small dogs were rescued from the boat and were being kept at the Norman Animal Shelter. Animal control officers said the dogs were schipperke mixes, about 7 to 10 years old.
Stevens' truck and boat trailer were found parked at the Turkey Pass boat ramp, Gibson said.
The body was taken to the state medical examiner's office for an autopsy, and the boat was impounded, pending an investigation.
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Yes it sad that nobody was out looking for him, but some families are happy to just be in contact once a week. maybe he was trolling around the lake when he had a heart attack and run into the stump and starting taking on water.
This is terribly sad...doesn't the man have family that missed him? I do find it odd about the boat sinking too. Unless it had a small hole and had been there for a while.
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