ORLANDO, Fla. – Authorities say 21-year-old Danny Diaz has died after the canoe he was on capsized in a lake in Orange County.
Orlando Fire Department said the incident occurred in Rock Lake near Ventura Avenue in Orlando. Orlando police said 7 people in their early 20s went to an empty home on the lake and took out a canoe from the property.
Police said when one of the people tried to reposition themselves the boat capsized as they were riding back from a beach area behind the Parliament House.
6 of the 7 people made it back to shore but said Diaz fell overboard 1,500 feet off of the shore.
Orlando police say six boaters knew how to swim. But the victim, who was in his early 20s, did not. Someone tried to help the victim to shore, but he panicked and sank.
After an hour-long search, Diaz was found and Local 6 was there as authorities pulled him out of the lake before he was taken to the Orlando Regional Medical Center. He was pronounced dead hours later.
Authorities said the boaters launched their canoe from a residence at around 3 a.m. They crossed the lake again at around 4 a.m. Police said they weren't wearing their life jackets.
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