CLEARWATER - A local man drowned in a motel pool Monday night while showing off to friends how long he could hold his breath under water, Clearwater police said.
Fletcher Yates, 37, of Clearwater was swimming in the pool at the Royal Palm Motel, 1250 Cleveland St., just after 10 p.m. Monday. He went under water several times before friends in the area noticed he went down again but did not resurface, police said. They got him out of the water and called 911. Yates was pronounced dead at the hospital. Police said it appears Yates had been drinking prior to the incident.
