Search paused for missing Clark man

Published 1:11 pm Tuesday, September 11, 2018

A Winchester man is presumed dead after he fell into a river during a fishing tournament Saturday in Harrison County

Winchester resident Harold Porter Lamb, 77, went missing about 7:30 a.m. Saturday after his boat capsized at the start of a fishing tournament on South Fork Licking River in Cynthiana.

Harrison County Search and Rescue crews were forced to suspend their search about 3 p.m. Saturday, Chief Re’Jeana Craft said. Flooding made it too dangerous for crews to continue searching.

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Rescue crews will resume their efforts on the open water Wednesday, Craft said.

Thursday, crews will get back near the dams and work the area and banks of the river. Craft said teams would also be using search dogs.

Craft said Lamb and Anthony Todd Durham, also of Winchester, were in a boat on South Fork Licking River participating in the tournament when their boat moved too close to the Terry Dam.

Lamb pulled up the boat’s trolling motor to check it. When Lamb put the motor back down, it snapped off, and he went into the water.

When the boat overturned, Durham was able to get out, but Lamb was unable to get to the shore.

“[Lamb] went into hydraulics of the dam,” Craft said.

Officials shut down Kentucky 3016 between U.S. 27 South and Kentucky 36 for a while on Saturday to focus on searching for Lamb.

Harrison County Search and Rescue crews led the efforts with assistance from the Cynthiana Police and its drone, Cynthiana Fire Department, Brown EMS, Harrison County Fire Department, Nicholas County Search and Rescue, Pendleton County Search and Rescue, Scott County Fire Department and the Paris Fire Department.

Craft said Lamb is presumed dead, and it is a recovery effort.

About Lashana Harney

Lashana Harney is a reporter for The Winchester Sun. Her beats include schools and education, business and commerce, Winchester Municipal Utilities and other news. To contact her, email lashana.harney@winchestersun.com or call 859-759-0015.

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