UPDATE: Fisherman who drowned at Stick Marsh identified

FELLSMERE — The fisherman who drowned at the Stick Marsh Thursday morning has been identified as Francis Whitehead, 65, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Spokesman Lenny Salberg.

Whitehead was reportedly wearing a personal flotation device, according to FWC.


FELLSMERE — After an extended session of CPR, because the boater was in cold water, a fisherman has been confirmed dead at 10:45 a.m. by Indian River County Fire Rescue, according to Fire Rescue’s Cory Richter.

They performed CPR at the scene and at the hospital.

After a call to 911 with a bad connection from the Stick Marsh in Fellsmere, authorities performed CPR on one person and found two others who were possibly hypothermic.

The boaters were in the water for 45 minutes, according to Richter. The person being treated with CPR has been transported to Sebastian River Medical Center.

The two who were possibly hypothermic refused treatment. Indian River County Fire Rescue, FWC, and a Sheriff’s Office Agriculture Unit responded.

In the 911 call, the caller reported a submerged boat and a man in the water. The three were fishing on a 16-foot bass boat. They were three miles into the Stick Marsh off of Babcock Road.

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