PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A man was found dead near the Dunedin Causeway after deputies received a water rescue call on Wednesday.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (PCSO), deputies responded to the call in the Intercoastal Waterway near the Dunedin Causeway at 11:40 a.m.
A later investigation revealed that Barnes and Coughenour were fishing on Coughenour's boat near 3 Rooker Island. Coughenour was driving the boat while Barnes sat at the boat's bow on top of a cooler.
Deputies said Coughenour removed his hand from the steering wheel to fix a fishing pole when the boat pulled a hard right, and both were ejected into the water.
Officials said Coughenour was able to swim back to the boat, but the boat ran over Barnes, and his right arm was caught in the motor's propellers, which submerged him underwater.
Coughener tried to help Barnes out of the water but was unable to. He flagged down nearby boaters, who called 911.
PCSO said 66-year-old Barnes was located dead, but 66-year-old Coughenour was uninjured.
Deputies determined nothing was suspicious, and impairment was not a factor in the incident.
"It was a miracle that it happened the way that it did."
Two people were rescued from a Disney Cruise Line ship after going overboard this weekend. A local family from Indian Rocks Beach said they were on the ship and captured video of the moments leading up to the dramatic rescue.
