Boone Community Mourns Alexander C. Luster, 36, After Watauga Lake Boating Incident During Bass Tournament Preparations
The Boone, North Carolina community mourns Alexander C. Luster, 36, who died after a boating incident on Watauga Lake in Tennessee on Friday evening, May 8, 2026.
Authorities said Alexander fell overboard near the Rat Branch boat ramp in a no-wake zone while preparing for a bass fishing tournament before it officially began.
Emergency crews responded after a distress call, and search teams worked into the night as family, friends, and fellow anglers waited along the shoreline.
Officials confirmed that Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency crews, Carter County Rescue Squad divers, and a remote operated vehicle team recovered Alexander around 11:35 p.m. Friday night.
Authorities ordered an autopsy and continue to review the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Friends remembered Alexander as a calm, kind person who loved the outdoors, fishing, shared stories, and time with family and friends on the water.
Memorial and funeral service details will be announced later by family members.
Related