FLW Tragedy

Prayers go out to the Strickland family.You can not be too careful on the
water,ever.
go-bassn wrote in message
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02.Mar.2004



Tony Strickland of Orlando, Fla., passed away Saturday evening following a
boating accident on Lake Eustis that occurred during the BFL Gator
Division
tournament on the Harris Chain of Lakes in Tavares, Fla.

According to Deputy Bud Anthony with the Lake County Sheriff's office,
Strickland and co-angler Rikk Stout of Minford, Ohio, were ejected from
their boat following a collision with a wave that caused damage to
Strickland's vessel.

Strickland and Stout were wearing personal floatation devices at the time
of
the accident and Strickland's ignition shutoff lanyard appears to have
functioned properly, according to Deputy Anthony, who examined the boat.
The
21-foot Triton powered by a 225 Mercury outboard sustained damage to its
starboard side but remained afloat and upright.

Deputy Anthony was attending the weigh-in at Hickory Point Landing and
began
a search for Strickland and Stout at the tournament director's request
when
the pair failed to check in.

At approximately 5:15 p.m. the Lake County Sheriff's Department received a
call reporting the damaged boat floating against a seawall on the south
end
of Lake Eustis. Deputy Anthony was just minutes from the location and was
the first to arrive on the scene. Upon finding the boat empty, Anthony
radioed dispatch, and a helicopter joined the search. Two additional
marine
units and a dive team were also alerted and placed en route.

About 15 minutes later, John Killory, who was out for a boat ride with his
family, saw Stout and pulled him into his boat, Deputy Anthony said.
Killory
then called a marine deputy via cell phone. The deputy relayed Killory's
location to dispatch, directing the helicopter and Deputy Anthony to the
scene.

The time of Stout's rescue was approximately 5:40 p.m. Within minutes, the
helicopter located Strickland and directed rescuers to him, Deputy Anthony
said. Strickland and Stout were then transported by ambulance to Florida
Hospital Waterman in Tavares, according to Deputy Anthony.

Stout was treated and released from the hospital that evening. Strickland,
unfortunately, passed away. A specific cause of death has not been
released
at this time, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,
which has jurisdiction over boating accidents, is conducting its
investigation.

Tony Strickland will be greatly missed by the entire FLW Outdoors family.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

A visitation is scheduled for noon Saturday, March 6, with a funeral
service
at 2 p.m. at Deltona Memorial Funeral Home, 1295 Saxon Blvd. in Orange
City,
Fla. People interested in making a contribution in Tony's memory can send
donations to the Teen Sportfishing Association, which Tony founded in 2001
to help teach teens about fishing and boating. Memorials may be sent to
the
following address:

Teen Sportfishing Association
C/O Nancy Strickland
769 Barger Drive
Deltona, Fla. 32738


Warren