Boater Drowns on Honeoye Lake

[BigJohnnyIce]

This is a sad story.....

-------------------------------------------------------------

(July 3, 2006) — HONEOYE — Ontario County sheriff's officials recovered the body of a man who drowned Sunday in Honeoye Lake during a family vacation.

Several residents with homes on the shore said strong winds and high whitecaps made the lake dangerous and "too choppy and too rough to go out there."

Michael J. Frungillo, 46, of Richmond, Ontario County, was one of about a dozen people on a pontoon boat, according to Ontario County sheriff's Lt. Bill Gallagher.

Frungillo dived into the water when he saw his 5-year-old grandson, who was playing in the water, floating away from the boat, Gallagher said.

The boy was wearing a life preserver. Frungillo, who was not wearing a life preserver, went into the water and did not come back up. The pontoon boat, which was being operated by Frungillo, was about 200 feet from shore when he went under shortly after 4 p.m. His grandson left the water safely.

"The water was murky and the waves were high," said Gallagher, who said Frungillo's wife and two daughters also were on the boat.

The Ontario County Sheriff's Department sent two boats and divers to search for the man.

The Honeoye Fire Department also sent divers. Searchers found Frungillo at 7:23 p.m. in 17 to 19 feet of water.

Gallagher said the Fourth of July weekend is a busy time along the lake as many out-of-town boaters enjoy heading out on the water.

While grilling steaks Sunday with family, Cliff Van Camp observed the conditions of the lake and decided not to take his boat out.

"It was just too windy out there. It's been that way for the past couple of days," said Van Camp, 54, of Fairport, who has a summer house on the Honeoye Lake shore. "The whitecaps were high (Sunday), which was unexpected for a recreational lake."

Mike Palma, 37, who sails on the lake almost every day in the summer, also noticed the waves and wind playing havoc with boats.

"It was too choppy and too rough to go out there. Someone could drive by your boat and it could have knocked you off it," said Palma, of Greece, who was vacationing along the shore with his wife and two children.

"You can be a strong swimmer, but I wouldn't go out there or have my kids out there without a life jacket."

Gallagher hoped other boaters would learn a lesson about safety.

"It's a sad story because (the grandfather) went into the water to save his grandson, who was wearing a life preserver," he said.

"If the adult was wearing a life preserver that would have helped him out."

[CNY Tim]

John - That is such a sad story. I have my PFD with me all the time and if it's choppy I'll put it on. I like those CO2 gas charged ones. Reports on the way big John, thanks...