A man drowned Thursday at Sugar Beach Condos, St. Croix, after attempting to swim ashore, the V.I. Police Department reported.
At about 10:00 a.m., a man and his two friends were snorkeling in the beach area. While out in the water, Charles Swanson Bowlin, 56, told one of his friends that he was not feeling well. Bowlin proceeded to swim back to shore. His friend stated he scanned the water and became worried when he couldn’t see Bowlin, according to the police report.
Both friends began looking for Bowlin to no avail. Meanwhile, 911 was notified that Bowlin was missing, which led the Department of Planning and Natural Resources and the Virgin Islands Police Department’s marine unit to search for him. His friends later found him underwater, the police report stated.
The victim was identified by his spouse, police said.
