The Polk County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating a drowning incident that claimed the life of a Frostproof man this past Sunday afternoon. The victim, identified as 52-year-old Pierre Richard Plourde, was spending time at Lake Clinch when the accident occurred, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office latest report.
Emergency crews, including the PCSO Marine Unit, the Frostproof Fire Department, and Polk County Fire Rescue, were dispatched to the Lake Clinch boat ramp on 7th Street West after receiving reports of the drowning around 2:28 pm, rapidly finding Plourde's body using advanced search technology like side-scan radar and an underwater drone they located the body at the lake's bottom roughly 150 yards offshore, The response time and use of equipment were swift, though ultimately efforts to save Plourde's life were in vain.
Witnesses recounted that Plourde had docked his boat near the ramp and stepped away to a pavilion; noticing later that his boat had begun to drift, he entered the water to retrieve it, during this attempt, individuals present heard Plourde calling out for help before he disappeared below the water's surface.
"Pierre Plourde was with his family and friends on Lake Clinch having a great time when he tragically drowned, First responders arrived quickly and utilized numerous resources we worked diligently, and we found him... unfortunately, we couldn't save his life," Sheriff Grady Judd expressed in a statement underscored by both rapid action yet a grim outcome. The Polk County Sheriff's Office has not made further details available, as the death investigation remains underway.
