Missing Fisherman's Body Pulled From Water At Yellow Creek State Park

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Rescue divers pulled the body of a 55-year-old man from the water in Yellow Creek State Park in Indiana County this morning.

According to the Indiana County Coroner's Office, the body of 55-year-old Benjamin Hill of Penn Run was recovered about 50 feet from the boat dock just after 10:30 a.m.

Hill and his uncle were at the park to go fishing, officials said.

The coroner's office reports that after parking his vehicle, Hill returned to the spot where he launched his boat to find that it had drifted away from the dock carrying his uncle onboard.

Hill's uncle told authorities that his nephew then jumped into the water to retrieve the boat and "just disappeared."

"The gentleman and his uncle were coming to fish this morning," said Kenneth Bisbee, the park manager. "They launched their boat and it came untied from the dock and the victim went in after it and dove under for the rope and never came up again. Freak accident, tragic, very tragic."

Another fisherman called for help just before 9 a.m., and firefighters and divers responded to the scene.

The Indiana County deputy coroner pronounced Hill dead just after 10:30 a.m.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Sunday.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and Yellow Creek State Park rangers continue to investigate the incident.

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