A 64-year-old man died Thursday October 15 after spending it the way he had so many times before, fishing.

The body of Harold Moyes of Port Neches was pulled from the river just before 3p.m. but it's how he died that has stunned even those who loved the drowning victim.

12 News Reporter Shane Doyle has details on the accident that killed him.

Harold Moyes's day started the same way it had many times before, fishing in the Neches River.

Police believe Moyes was loading his boat onto a trailer when the boat began to float back into the water.

Some of Moyes's belongings were found on the front seat of his truck suggesting he went into the river after it.

Moyes's son told police he was shocked his father would attempt to swim out by himself to get the boat.

"Knowing that with the way that winds blowing and the current is, you're never going to catch the boat swimming in the water. Of course his son is completely devastated by this. They just want to know why. Why he would have done that. And just couldn't believe he would have done that" said Chief Paul Lemoine of the Port Neches Police Department.

A city employee was driving by the river at the time and saw Moyes in the water.

When he stopped and yelled out to him, Moyes threw his arms up in the air.

Thats when the worker jumped in after him.

"I handled the situation a little better than I thought I would. I actually remember telling myself to stay calm. If you do bump into him just try to get him. Maybe he hadn't been under long enough that you could at least get him back to the bank or rescue workers get here and get him in to try CPR to see if they could revive him" said Bryan Clutts, City Utility Worker.

But before he could get there, Moyes went under and never came back up, possibly worn down by strong currents.

Rescuers believe he was overcome by fatigue.

"Today I hate my job because I had to tell the victims wife, who is a friend of our family" added Lemoine.

This tragedy can be a lesson that currents in the Neches River can be deceptively strong. So don't chance it.

One law enforcement officer told me though, that if he'd been in Moyes shoes he might have done the same thing.

In Port Neches, Shane Doyle, 12 News.

It's a terrible blow to those who knew the family and of course Harold Moyes wife and two children who are mourning the tragedy.

Previous story version from 11:00a.m. Thursday, October 15, 2009:

First responders with the Port Neches Fire Department are at Port Neches Park in search of a reported possible drowning. A 911 caller reported a man had fallen off of a boat around 9:30 a.m.

The Chief of Police at Port Neches told 12 News they believe the man was loading up his boat when the boat got away from him. The man is believed to have dove in to get the boat but it was too far away and the man did not resurface.

Also a dispatcher told 12 News the department has asked for assistance from the United States Coast Guard.

12 News has a crew on this story and will have much more today on 12 News Midday at 11:30a.m. as well as updates here when they become available.

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