Body of rowing team member who went missing when boat capsized in Florida lake recovered, officials say

ORLANDO, Fla. — Divers searched through the night for a student missing after a rowing team’s boat capsized in an Orlando lake following a nearby lightning strike, officials said.

By shortly after 5 p.m. Friday, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit discovered the student’s body, the Orlando Fire Department said in a Tweet on Friday night.

Medics took one child to a hospital and three others who were on the boat were sent home with their parents following the incident on Lake Fairview on Thursday evening, Orlando Fire Department Executive Deputy Chief Ian Davis said during a news conference.

At approximately 5:15 p.m., Orange County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit located the missing student on Lake Fairview, and the recovery effort has been completed.

We are incredibly saddened by this incident and appreciate the efforts of the multiple agencies who worked

— Orlando Fire Dept (@OrlandoFireDept) September 17, 2022

“The rowing club was on the lake practicing,” Davis said. “There was lightning strike in the area. We’re unsure if it actually hit the vessel or was just in the area. The boat was capsized.”

Davis said divers and officials from multiple agencies searched a wide area for the missing child. He did not give the age of the child or what school the team members attend.

Orlando television station WESH reported that the team was practicing at the North Orlando Rowing facility. Its online calendar said middle school and JV/Varsity teams were scheduled to practice between 3:50 and 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Sun Sentinel staff writer Angie DiMichele contributed to this report.