HOLIDAY, Fla. -- Pasco County authorities have recovered the body of a man who went overboard in Lake Conley Sunday afternoon.

  • Man falls from boat on Lake Conley in Holiday
  • Group of people tried to rescue him
  • Harry Sam Jr.'s body recovered Monday

Search crews found Harry Sam, Jr. Monday afternoon after he disappeared just before 7:00 p.m. while boating with friends. 

“This is almost like losing one of your own," said Alan Martin, a longtime family friend.

Martin was just a few feet away from the lake when authorities from the Pasco County Marine Unit and Dive Team made the discovery. Sam and Martin’s sons were close friends. 

"He’s been friends with my sons for probably 30 years,” said Martin. “They went to school together and Harry and my son lived together as roommates."

"They were on the boat having fun,” he said. “I guess he jumped off. They said it was like 15 yards or so and he went down."

Sam’s brother was also present when his body was recovered. He declined to speak to Spectrum Bay News 9. 

Investigators say there was no trauma to Sam’s body and foul play is not suspected. 

The medical examiner will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death.