FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Officials say a North Texas boater whose 2-year-old was found in the woods after he went missing was killed when he was accidentally struck by the boat propeller.
The Tarrant County medical examiner’s office said 38-year-old Matthew Meinert died underwater in Denton Creek in Roanoke. His body was found Friday.
Meinert launched a fishing boat March 6 from a Trophy Club ramp. His son, Oliver, was with him. About an hour later, his boat was found beached in a creek bed. A search then began.
Texas Game Warden Cliff Swofford told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the next morning, officials were walking through the woods near where the boat was found when Oliver walked up to them.
Swofford said he was “dry, scratched-up, scared and cold” but was fine.