A 38-year-old Springdale man drowned in a popular Beaver Lake cove Saturday afternoon (Aug. 17).
Authorities identified the man as Brandon Batchelor. Batchelor was swimming at approximately 3 p.m. with friends at “Party Cove” near the Pine Top area, one of two areas popular with boaters and floaters, who often tie boats together for a group outing.
Deputy Keshia Guyll of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office said Batchelor and some friends were swimming when the friends noticed that Batchelor had not resurfaced. Three friends dove underwater, found Batchelor and pulled him on a boat.
Guyll said Batchelor was underwater for approximately five minutes. His friends performed CPR on him for an hour, Guyll said, before meeting with medics at the Rocky Branch Marina, which is about three miles from the Party Cove.
