GATES COUNTY — An adult male died Friday after a canoe capsized on Summerton Creek near the tristate border of Gates County, Hertford County, and Virginia, according to Gates County Emergency Management.
The Gates County 911 Center received a report of the overturned canoe at approximately 12:12 p.m. on June 13, with initial reports indicating three individuals were involved in the incident.
Two of the three were safely accounted for, but one adult male did not resurface. Responders launched an extensive search operation using boats, side-scan sonar, and an underwater drone. The victim was located and recovered at approximately 4:46 p.m.
The response drew more than a dozen agencies, including the Gates County Sheriff’s Office, Gates County Rescue and EMS Station 10, Gates Station 30 Volunteer Fire Department, Eure Station 50 Volunteer Fire Department, Gates County Emergency Management, North Carolina Wildlife, Hertford County Emergency Management and EMS, Winton Fire Department, and the Chesapeake Fire Department.
The incident remains under investigation by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Gates County Emergency Management credited mutual aid partners for their role in the recovery, offering special thanks to Hertford County Emergency Management and EMS, Winton Fire Department, Chesapeake Fire Department, Bud Eure, and Gates County Sheriff Ray Campbell.
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