Boater Drowns Trying To Grab Hat From Lake Hopatcong

JEFFERSON, NJ — A boater out on the lake with his family drowned after he jumped into Lake Hopatcong to grab his hat this weekend, New Jersey State Police told Patch.

Bo Long, 51, of Livingston, was boating with nine members of his family Saturday afternoon when his hat blew off his head and landed in the water. He turned the boat around to get closer to his hat, shut the engine off, and jumped into the lake to grab it, State Police Lt. Ted Schafer told Patch. He was not wearing a life jacket.

Long got his hat, but the pontoon boat drifted away and was too far for him to swim back. Two family members jumped into the lake as began slipping under, Schafer said, to attempt to help him.

"He simply could not swim back," Schafer said.

Two jet skiers saw Long struggling, and called 911 from the lake before attempting to help. One of the jet skiers jumped on the pontoon boat and drove it back to shore, Schafer told Patch.

Despite help from his family, two good samaritans, and the Jefferson first aid squad, Long was pronounced dead shortly after the incident.

Long rented the boat from nearby Bridge Marina, Schafer said.

Image via Stephen Harris, Flickr