Man drowns at Wappapello Lake

WAPPAPELLO LAKE, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man, drowned this weekend at Wappepello Lake.

The Daily American Republic reported that at about 3:45 p.m. Sunday on Wappapello Lake, Richard Hendrickson drowned near his anchored pontoon boat, according to Missouri State Water Patrolman David Nelson.

"He jumped into the water to see if it was shallow enough for his granddaughter to get in; he jumped in, went under, resurfaced and said 'Help,'" Nelson explained. "When he didn't resurface, his wife jumped into the water; she was able to locate him and bring him to the surface."

Rita Hendrickson, he said, was able to get her 68-year-old husband to the boat and began yelling for help.

Nelson said there were other boaters in the area, who heard Rita Hendrickson's pleas.

"They went over and helped her get him out of the water and into his boat," said Nelson. CPR was begun, he said.

Another boat operator, Nelson said, attempted to drive the Hendrickson boat to the Pisos Point boat ramp, but due to mechanical difficulty with the motor he was unable to do so.

Instead, Nelson said, he towed the pontoon to the boat ramp, where it was met by first responders and emergency medical services personnel.

Richard Hendrickson, who Nelson was told couldn't swim, was taken to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Although Nelson is unsure of the water depth, he said Rita Hendrickson told him when she jumped in, the water was over her head.