Curtis A. Smith died after helping to save Donald L. and Jacob Schroeder from drowning, Lakeport, Florida, December 26, 1998. Schroeder, 41, and his son Jacob, 10, were with Schroeder’s father aboard a 16-foot motorboat, fishing on Lake Okeechobee. The weather suddenly deteriorated, and the boat capsized in the high wind and rough water, throwing the occupants overboard. Smith, 45, groundskeeper, who was fishing nearby in his 17-foot boat, arrived within minutes and took Jacob aboard. During subsequent rescue activity, Smith’s boat filled with water, and Smith was next seen in the lake, holding a floating ice chest. He was carried away. Schroeder, who had boarded Smith’s boat, remained in the partially submerged vessel with Jacob until they were rescued by another fisherman about two hours later. Schroeder’s father drowned, as did Smith, whose body was recovered from the lake two days later.
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