BAKER COUNTY, OREGON, Ore. — The Baker County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a 71-year-old man drowned at Anthony Lakes Sunday.
The incident happened at about 11:30 a.m., according to officials.
The victim, identified as Robert James Akers, had been camping with his wife near Granite before heading to the lake as a day trip.
According to witnesses, Akers was on an inflatable boat when he appeared to be in distress, and fell off into the water.
Akers was not wearing a life jacket. Two people in a canoe were able to row out out him and pull him onto the rocks. One of them began performing CPR, while the other retrieved a paddleboard to get the 71-year-old to shore.
Despite the attempts to save his life, Akers was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.
The Baker County Sheriff's Office says Akers' death is the county's fourth drowning since July. None of the four were wearing a personal floatation device.
"The Baker County Sheriff's Office encourages everyone to wear a life jacket when recreating on, or near, the water," officials wrote.
