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Father dies after boat capsizes

By TIMES STAFF WRITER
Published April 23, 2006

CRYSTAL RIVER - A 56-year-old man died Saturday morning after his small boat capsized in Crystal River, the U.S. Coast Guard reported.

George Paul Tichy of Crystal River and his son, George Paul Tichy Jr., 16, were fishing in a 13-foot Gheenoe, a canoe-like boat with a motor on it. The river was choppy and the boat capsized, said Petty Officer Tasha Tully.

Although there were life jackets on board, the two weren't wearing them, Tully said. They tried to swim toward an island about 50 feet away, but they were swimming against a strong current.

The son said Tichy called out, "I'm not going to make it," and lost consciousness, Tully said.

The teen swam to his father, dragged him to the capsized boat and draped him across it.

A passer-by called Coast Guard officials at 9:30 a.m., Tully said. A Coast Guard boat was on patrol nearby and arrived within 15 minutes, Tully said, but Tichy was dead when it arrived.

The son was absolutely exhausted and obviously distraught and was taken by ambulance as a precaution to Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center, Tully said, but was otherwise in good health.

Tully said George Paul Tichy Jr.'s father was his only relative in Florida. The Coast Guard contacted Tichy's ex-wife, the boy's mother, in Arizona.

[Last modified April 23, 2006, 00:49:08]