Ohio River searchers discover body

PETERSBURG, Ky. - Mike Fugate wanted to cool off during Tuesday's hot weather while onboard a small boat with his brother-in-law, so he went in for a swim around 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Fugate would only come to the surface once, call for help and then slip under.

"He was a good guy. He would give you the shirt of his back," said his brother Ted Fugate.

Boone County dispatchers confirmed that searchers found the body of 48-year-old Fugate in the area where they were looking around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday night.

Ted Fugate described his brother's last moments through the eyes of his brother-in-law.

"Junior said he came back up and said help," Ted Fugate said. "Junior threw a life jacket right in front of his face and Mike didn't  reach for it. He went back down."

Before the body was discovered, Boone County Sheriff's spokesman Tom Scheben said the search had already turned into a recovery mission.

"Let's be honest," Scheben told reporters, "You know we were down here quickly after it was reported. Especially after a drowning, if you don't find them within the first few minutes, then you move into recovery."

9 News asked Ted Fugate if his brother was in good shape physically. The answer was no.

"Mike, he's not in good shape. He's had a lot of illness. He weighed 110-115 lbs. So he doesn't have much strength at all," said Ted Fugate.