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UPDATE: South Lake Tahoe police ID man found floating near Tahoe Keys

By Ryan Hoffman Tahoe Daily Tribune

Authorities have identified a South Lake Tahoe man who died after being found floating face down near the Tahoe Keys Monday.

Robert Hill, 74, was found floating in the water about 200 yards off Light House Shores around 11:30 a.m. Monday. Hill, who was unresponsive when officers arrived aboard Marine 1, was face down and wearing a yellow life jacket.

After being pulled from the water, officers transported him to Tahoe Keys Marina where South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue medical support was stationed, the Tribune first reported.

He was transported to Barton Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to police, Hill left his home in the Tahoe Keys to go fly a model airplane on the Light House Shores beach around 8:30 a.m.

Police say it appears Hill’s plane crashed into Lake Tahoe and he went in to retrieve it while wearing a life jacket.

The cause of death remains under investigation, although police do not suspect foul play at this time. Neither alcohol nor other drugs are believed to be a factor.

UPDATE: This story has been updated to include Robert Hill’s age.

Original Story

A man who was found unresponsive in the waters of Tahoe Keys Monday is dead.

A boater spotted what appeared to be a life jacket floating in the water in Tahoe Keys sometime before noon, according to Lt. David Stevenson with the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. It soon became evident a person was wearing the life jacket.

Marine 1, South Lake Tahoe’s emergency response boat, was called in and retrieved the body of a 76-year-old South Lake Tahoe resident around 11:42 a.m. The man was unresponsive.

He was transported to Tahoe Keys Marina, where medical officials provided further treatment and transported him to Barton Memorial Hospital.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The man’s name is being withheld until family members are notified.

Although it is unusual to find a likely drowning victim wearing a life jacket, Stevenson said there does not appear to be anything suspicious or criminal about the incident.

Although it’s unclear exactly how long the man’s body was in the water, Stevenson said it was likely sometime this morning — meaning a matter of hours, not days.

The cause of death is pending an autopsy.


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