13 Oct Floresville Man Dies After Going Overboard Near Padre Isles

A 66-year-old Floresville man died Monday after he was thrown from a boat at the entrance to Padre Isles. Crews searched the water for roughly three hours before finding him.

The Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office identified him as Herbert Ward Jr.

Emergency officials said the call came in shortly before noon, triggered by a GPS alert. Responders learned Ward had been boating with his wife when he went overboard. She stayed on the vessel. Texas Game Wardens said witnesses placed the boat in the channel that leads into the canals, just south of Marker 37.

Crews located Ward at about 3 p.m. The Medical Examiner’s Office took custody of his body.

Texas Parks and Wildlife said Ward was not wearing a life jacket, and he was not connected to the boat’s emergency engine cut-off switch. The switch is a lanyard that shuts the motor down if the driver leaves the helm.

Game Wardens are leading the investigation. No cause has been given for how Ward ended up in the water.

The search drew in the Corpus Christi Fire Department and Police Department, Corpus Christi EMS, the U.S. Coast Guard, Texas State Park Police, Nueces County Emergency Services District No. 2, Corpus Christi Beach Rescue and the San Patricio County Constable’s dive team. The waterway has since reopened to boat traffic.