2 die in separate drownings on Polk, Highlands County lakes

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Two adults lost their lives Sunday in two separate drownings in Polk and Highlands counties.

“It’s a tragedy on a Sunday afternoon in Frostproof,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd in a recorded video Sunday.

Judd said his deputies and members of the Frostproof Fire Department found the body of Pierre Plourde, 52, at the bottom of Lake Clinch 150 yards offshore.

It was too late to save him.

“Pierre Plourde was doing what he should have been doing with his family, and he was on Lake Clinch having a great time,” said the sheriff.

The sheriff said, when his beached boat began to float away, Plourde swam out to get it.

He was in distress, screaming for help and went under the water.

A friend tried to help but was unable.

That same afternoon, on Lake Damon in Avon Park, Chase Parrish, 29, was fishing with another person.

They both fell into the water.

Parrish struggled and the person tried to help, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

“A short time later, after not being able to help the struggling person in the water, that individual swam back to the vessel and called 911 for help,” read a statement from FWC.

Parrish, FWC said, was declared deceased when his body was found.

“It’s a very overwhelming situation,” said Joel Woodside, operational manager at Inhale Exhale Swim, which provides swim lessons to people starting as early as six months old.

His advice for people struggling in the water is to try to relax.

“We always try to tell them if they don’t know how to swim, try to get your chin to the sky and get on your back so you can breathe on your back and possibly just relax and float,” he said.

He also suggests wearing a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

Both deaths remain under investigation.

In June 2023, Jose Torres, 17, died when he was ejected from his jet ski on Lake Clinch.