On July 1, 2012 at approximately 7:25 PM, Vaden and Stella Hounsell were returning to Dover from a family outing, as they came closer to the town of Dover, they found a canoe lying upside down in the area known as the Tickle, just outside Dover. When they approached the canoe, they found a single male laying face down on the water, his life jacket was a short distance away from him.
The person, Douglas Keats, age 60, of Dover, was found deceased in the water. His remains were retrieved by the Hounsells and brought into Dover where the police met them.
The family has confirmed that Mr. Keats was a known non-swimmer.
The canoe was found overturned and undamaged. It was reported by the family that Mr. Keats had decided to paddle out to a vessel they had moored in the area, not an uncommon thing for him, and he had failed to return. He had been gone such a short time that they had not considered him overdue when they found out he had been recovered in the water. He had been gone for about an hour when he was discovered.
Weather was not felt to be a consideration in this tragedy.
An autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of death.
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