72-year-old woman drowns after falling in Baldwin County pond while fishing

Officials have identified an elderly woman who died after drowning at a private pond in Baldwin County Saturday morning.

Margie Sheppard, 72, fell into the pond off Butler Road around 9:38 a.m. while fishing with a family member, officials said. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division arrived on the scene around 9:45 a.m.

The two were fishing on the pond in a Jon boat when her fishing line got tangled in a tree, according to police records.

Sheppard stood on the boat and attempted to retrieve the line but lost her balance and fell in the water, said Sgt. Ricky Boles of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division.

The family member told police that while fishing he heard Sheppard fall into the water and observed her unresponsive, face down in the water, according to police records.

The family member jumped into the water to retrieve Sheppard before calling 911. Sgt. Boles said a dispatcher talked him through CPR steps until Baldwin County Fire Rescue and EMS arrived on the scene.

Sheppard was transported to Atrium Navicent Baldwin, where she was pronounced dead, according to police records.