A man drowned Wednesday in Toledo Bend Reservoir while trying to retrieve his boat at a launching area, Sabine Parish Coroner Ron Rivers said.
It happened at A-1 Campground off Highway 191 west of Converse.
Rivers said the victim, William B. Ryan, 78, of Converse, was pronounced dead at the scene.
There were no witnesses to the drowning but Rivers was able to piece together information to determine Ryan was alone when he left his home and went to the A-1 Campground to fish. Ryan keeps a rope tied to the front of his boat and the end of the trailer so he can control the boat while launching it.
Ryan had released his boat and it cleared the trailer but that's when the rope broke, Rivers said, causing the boat to float out in to the canal.
Ryan, who was fully clothed, went into the water in an attempt to retrieve his boat.
"But in the attempt to recover the boat he drowned in about 6 feet of water," Rivers said.
Two fishermen who came up later to fish saw Ryan's body floating in the canal and pulled it to the bank, Rivers said.
Rivers has ruled Ryan's death an accidental drowning.