CARBONDALE – Three fisherman were able to help Williamson County Sheriff’s deputies recently in the search for what was initially believed to be a missing person at Little Grassy Lake but ended with a positive outcome.

According to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a report of a capsized boat on Little Grassy Lake at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21.

When deputies arrived, they discovered that two fishermen had located a kayak/canoe floating upside down in the middle of the lake.

Due to strong winds and rough water, the fishermen became concerned and towed it to shore. Once on shore, they discovered a backpack containing a cell phone which was still dry and operating.

Alarmed, the fishermen were able to use the cell phone to contact a parent of the cell phone owner who was able to confirm his identity and that their son was on the lake but missing.  The fishermen contacted law enforcement and began searching the water for anyone in distress. The sheriff’s office was able to determine that the individual was in the boat when it capsized and that the cell phone belonged to a third year SIU student.

The fishermen on scene assisted law enforcement in the search for what was initially believed to be a missing person, but deputies learned that the student had found himself capsized in the water, and that he swam to shore. Believing his belongings were lost and making it to shore uninjured, he returned to his home in Carbondale.

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office would like to recognize the efforts of Parker Branscum of Dongola, Reese Belcher of Anna, and Nicholas Grimm of Carbondale for their efforts.

Sheriff Jeff Diederich and SIU Police officers responded to the student’s campus residence and were able to confirm his safety, returned the student’s belongings, and learn of the circumstances which led to him in the water.