A day on the water at Robert S. Kerr Reservoir has ended in tragedy for a Sequoyah County man, after a boating incident late last month led to fatal injuries. Authorities say 47-year-old Richard Chambers was hurt at the lake on May 30 when he fell, struck his head on a boat and then went into the water. He later died from his injuries around 6 p.m. on Friday, according to officials.
Emergency crews were called to the reservoir at about 7:30 p.m. on May 30 for what was initially described as a near drowning, as reported by OKCFOX. The outlet reports that Chambers lost consciousness after hitting his head, then fell face down into the water before being pulled out. He did not survive the injuries from that sequence of events.
Authorities have not released further information about exactly how the fall happened or whether any broader investigation is underway. For now, the public record stops at the basic outline: a fall, a head injury, and a man who never made it home.
Where the accident happened
Robert S. Kerr Reservoir stretches along the Arkansas River in eastern Oklahoma and touches several counties, including Sequoyah. The lake, its lock and dam, and nearby recreation areas are run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers notes that the reservoir is a regular draw for boaters and anglers across the region.
Boating risks and safety
National data show that drowning remains the leading cause of death in recreational boating incidents. Where the cause is known, most of those who drown are not wearing life jackets, according to the National Safe Boating Council.
Safety advocates consistently urge boaters to wear Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices and to take certified boating safety courses. Those basic steps are designed to reduce the odds of falls overboard, head injuries and drowning, especially on smaller vessels. National Safe Boating Council
OKCFOX identified the victim as Chambers, who was 47. No family statement or obituary had been made public at the time of that report. Additional details may be released if officials or relatives choose to speak about the incident.
