Skip to main content
Clear icon
66º

Man dies while trying to save wife on Florida lake

Man went into water to help other boater, officials say

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. –  Authorities say a Central Florida man died while trying to save his wife who was struggling in the rough water of a lake.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports 37-year-old Sara Diggs began having trouble staying afloat as soon as she entered the water from a ladder off a boat on Lake George on Sunday.

The FWC said Diggs and their three children were boating across Lake George from Silver Glen to Astor in windy weather and rough water.

A report by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says her 33-year-old husband Norman Diggs III went into the water after her and also began struggling. Their friend Gary O'Brien was on a nearby boat. He jumped in while others started calling for help.

O'Brien was able to get Sara Diggs to safety, but wasn't able to help her husband. Officials found Diggs' body Sunday night.

A group of people was seen consoling each other near the Sheriff's Office command center shortly after it was announced Norman Diggs' body had been found at 7:30 p.m. He was not wearing a life jacket, FWC said.

The FWC has not said what Diggs' cause of death is.


About the Authors
Troy Campbell headshot

Troy graduated from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication. He has reported on Mexican drug cartel violence on the El Paso/ Juarez border, nuclear testing facilities at the Idaho National Laboratory and severe Winter weather in Michigan.

Dawn Jorgenson headshot

Dawn Jorgenson, Graham Media Group Branded Content Managing Editor, began working with the group in April 2013. She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in electronic media.

Loading...