An elderly South Lake Tahoe man drowned trying to retrieve a model airplane that crashed into the lake, police say.
Officers were called out to the lake around 11:30 a.m. after someone reported seeing a life jacket floating in the water about 200 yards off Light House Shores.
Police responded by boat and discovered the victim, 74-year-old Robert Hill, floating face down, still wearing the yellow life jacket. Rescuers pulled Hill from the water and started CPR. Hill was transported to Barton Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
According to investigators, Hill left his home in the Tahoe Keys around 8:30 a.m. to fly his model airplane on the Light House Shores Beach. When the plane crashed into the lake, Hill went in, wearing a life jacket, to try and retrieve it.
An official cause of death has not been determined, however, police say no foul play is suspected, nor do they believe alcohol or drugs played a factor.
The case remains under investigation.
