A man was found dead in Lake Champlain Wednesday, a day after a canoe carrying him and another boater capsized, leaving the other man stranded on an island overnight, Vermont State Police said.
The body was spotted in the water about two miles from where the canoe capsized off Knight Island State Park in North Hero, police said. It’s presumed to be that of the 71-year-old Montpelier man who fell into the water with his companion, a 67-year-old relative from Woodbury, after they set out about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Both men were wearing flotation devices, but they were separated when they fell into the lake. After about an hour, the 67-year-old was able to swim ashore on Knight Island, police said, and he got into the caretaker’s home for shelter — it was after dark.
But there was no way to communicate, and was only able to get help once he found a canoe in the morning and made his way to North Hero, according to police. That started a large search-and-rescue effort, which ended about noon, when the body was spotted and subsequently recovered.
Police didn’t share the name of the 71-year-old who died. His body was undergoing an autopsy to confirm his identity and how he died, but police don’t believe the incident is suspicious.
Asher Klein
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