Body recovered during search for missing boater on Lake Wylie

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – The search for a missing boater on Lake Wylie led to a body being recovered Wednesday night, authorities said.

According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission, the body of 45-year-old Jim Cook, of Fort Mill, was recovered from the Here At Last and Youngblood Road Cove of Lake Wylie around 7:30 p.m.

The recovery happened roughly 24 hours after a call for a rowboat accident on Lake Wylie came in Tuesday night, leading to a search for the boater.

Related: ‘It’s a sad situation’: Rescue crews continue search for missing Lake Wylie boater

Several emergency responders, including crews from the Steele Creek Volunteer and Charlotte fire departments, initially responded to the Catawba Yacht Club Tuesday night.

The search resumed Wednesday morning in the cove where Cook’s body was eventually recovered.

Neighbors and friends say Cook was a member of the Catawba Yacht Club and was well-versed in boater safety.

Sgt. William Laton of the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission says accidents in the style boat Cook was in are extremely rare.

“Due to his experience level, you don’t usually expect that kind of thing to happen. What exactly happened is what we’re looking at right now,” Laton said.

The N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission is taking over the investigation.

Copyright 2023 WBTV. All rights reserved.