Bernice Richards Drowning in Butler County Kansas

WICHITA WOMAN IS VICTIM OF DROWNING

A 53-year old Wichita woman became El Dorado Lake's second drowning victim Wednesday evening when she jumped from a boat in an attempt to recover her husband's wallet.

The victim was identified as Bernice L. Richards of 1718 Fairview in Wichita.

The Butler County Sheriff's Office was notified of the drowning (which occurred in the sailboat cove marina at the north end of the Boulder Bluff state recreation area on the west side of the lake) by CB radio at 8:51 p.m.

According to sheriff's reports, Richards; her husband, James A. Richards, 56, and James Richards' brother, Robert L. Richards, 48, and his wife, Roxie J. Richards, 38 both of 1025 S. Main in Wichita, had left the boat ramp at the marina when their boat encountered engine trouble.

As James Richards leaned over the boat to try to fix the problem, according to sheriff's reports, his wallet fell into the water and Bernice Richards went into the water to attempt to retrieve it.

As Bernice Richards started to drift away from the boat according to sheriff's reports, the other people in the boat used oars to try to reach her. Roxie Richards went into the water to try to rescue her, according to sheriff's reports, but had to be pulled out of the water by rope because Bernice Richards was pulling her under.

The other people in the boat waved their oars, sounded the boat horn and called out for help, according to sheriff's reports. Three people, Gary Pierce and his son, David of 1431 S. 127th street in Wichita and Brent E. Nispel of Rural Route 2, Box 39A, Rose Hill, - responded and lifted Bernice Richards out of the water and into the Pierce boat.

They took her to the marina and administered cardio-pulmonary rescucitation until an ambulance arrived. Richards was taken to Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The previous drowning at El Dorado Lake occurred April 24, 1984, when David Allen Love, Jr., 29, of Burns, drowned in an accident about 1/2 mile north of the old Chelsea School along the west side of old Highway 177.

A 4-year old boy was treated at SBA Wednesday night and then released after he was discovered floating face down in an above ground swimming pool at a residence 6 miles east of El Dorado on Highway 54.

Capt. Keith Barnes, head of the investigations division of the sheriff's office, said Josh Skaggs, was staying at the residence while his parents were on vacation. He said it is believed an aunt, who is a nurse, found the boy; the aunt administered cardio-pulmonary rescuscition until an ambulance arrived.

Barnes said it is believed the boy had already been revived while the ambulance was enroute to the hospital.

The sheriff's office received the call at 7:50 p.m. The El Dorado Department of Public Safety had earlier received the call and dispatched an ambulance; upon being notified, the sheriff's office dispatched Sgt. Dave Hall to the scene. (El Dorado Times, Front page, July 16, 1987)