Thomas Fowler Obituary, Cause of Death; Zanesville, Ohio Man Died in Kayak Capsizes at Salt Fork State Park

In a somber turn of events over the Labor Day weekend, two Ohio men lost their lives in a tragic kayaking accident at Salt Fork State Park.

The Guernsey County Coroner’s Office has officially identified the victims as 53-year-old Thomas Fowler of Zanesville and 69-year-old Robert Hurst of Chillicothe.

The incident occurred around 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, as the men were kayaking near the beach area of Salt Fork Lake, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), the tragedy unfolded when one of the kayaks suddenly capsized, throwing one of the men into the water.

In a heroic but ultimately tragic attempt, the second man abandoned his kayak and dove into the lake to rescue his companion. Unfortunately, both men drowned in the process.

ODNR officers, who were quickly dispatched to the scene, managed to recover the body of one of the men shortly after the incident. However, the search for the second man took several hours, and his body was eventually recovered later in the day.

The details surrounding the incident are still under investigation by the ODNR and local authorities. The circumstances leading to the capsizing of the kayak remain unclear, and investigators are working to determine whether factors such as weather conditions, equipment failure, or health issues may have contributed to the tragic outcome.

LOCATIN FACTS

Salt Fork State Park, located in Guernsey County, is Ohio’s largest state park, covering over 17,000 acres with a sprawling 3,000-acre lake at its center. The park is a popular spot for outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, camping, and hiking. However, the park’s lake, like many bodies of water, can pose significant risks, particularly for those who are not adequately prepared or who face unexpected challenges while on the water.