Search and rescue crews recovered the body of Charles “Buddy” Reed just before noon Wednesday at Sugarloaf Lake in southern Sebastian County.
Sheriff Bill Hollenbeck says the Reed’s body was found under a few feet of water in about the same area where he was believed to have fallen out of his canoe Tuesday night. Authorities believe he was alone at the time.
"We have reports that apparently he may have been drinking heavily and also of course he did not have a life jacket," said Sheriff Hollenbeck.
Reed, believed to be in his early 30s, lived on the lake, according to the sheriff.
"Unfortunately, this is one of those situations where you overextend your capabilities and you can have a tragedy that occurs," said Sheriff Hollenbeck.
Emergency dispatchers received a call around 8:30 p.m. saying a man disappeared after falling out of a canoe, according to Phillip Pevehouse with the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office.
Pevehouse said no one saw him fall into the water, but eyewitnesses said they heard a splash and saw someone bobbing in the water for a short period of time before they couldn’t see him anymore.
Divers searched the area late Tuesday and resumed their efforts at 8 a.m. Wednesday with underwater cameras. A search dog was also used at the scene.
Slaytonville/Sugarloaf Rural Fire Department volunteers, Sebastian County Sheriff's deputies, Lavaca Police Department, Arkansas Game and Fish officers and the Greenwood Police Department assisted with the search and recovery efforts.
Reed's body will be sent to the state medical examiner for an autopsy and officially determine a cause of death, according to Pevehouse.
