Moses Lake man dies after falling off boat

MOSES LAKE - An 80-yearold man from Moses Lake died on Thursday after falling off a boat at Potholes Reservoir near Moses Lake.

Tommie Chapman, 80, of Moses Lake, was fishing from a small boat with a friend, when the boat capsized. Chapman was not wearing a life jacket and did not resurface. Chapman's friend, also in his 80's, was not injured in the accident, according to the Grant County Sheriff's Office.

At about 12:45 p.m. the Grant County Sheriff's Office, State Fish and Wildlife officers, Grant County Search and Rescue, Grant County Fire District no. 5 and an AMR ambulance responded to the report of Chapman falling into a body of water located in a remote area at the north end of Potholes Reservoir, about four miles south of Interstate-90 near exit 174.

Firefighters recovered Chapman's body at about 2 p.m.

Chapman's remains are currently at the Grant County Coroner's office, where an autopsy will be performed.

"I want to extend my sympathies to Mr. Chapman's family and friends," Sheriff Tom Jones said. "This was an awful end to a quiet day of late-summer fishing, and I pray Mr. Chapman's loved ones can find peace."

The Sheriff's Office wants to recognize the MACC 911 dispatchers who provided valuable information between the responders and the woman who called for help.