You don't have to be in the water to die from it.
The body of country singer Craig Strickland was found in a thick tree and brush area on Monday, authorities told to FOX411.
"This thick tree line made it difficult to locate Strickland, who was wearing camouflage hunting gear," a statement from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol explained.
Strickland was the lead singer of the Arkansas-based country-rock band Backroad Anthem. He disappeared during severe storms on Dec. 27 while on a duck hunting trip with friend Chase Morland.
The pair's capsized boat was found that day. Morland's body was recovered from the lake on Dec. 28.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol Marine Enforcement Division found Strickland's body Monday morning, authorities said.
"Strickland’s body was located within the original search area known as Bear Creek Cove," authorities stated.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol stated the bodies of Morland and Strickland were found in the same general area.
"Strickland and Morland had a 1977 Flat Bottom John Boat with no motor, and other hunting equipment such as an ice chest and decoys. These items created a 'debris field' along the shore line. Both Strickland and Morland were located near this area."
The singer's wife shared the news of his death on Twitter.
#CraigStrickland was found today. He is safe with his Father in Heaven. Thank you Lord for leading us to him today. I will praise you, Amen.
— Helen Strickland (@HelenWisner) January 4, 2016
The country singer was 29.
His wife, Helen, also described her husband's final moments in an Instagram post.
"The night of the accident he had fought his way out of the water and up a hill before the stages of hypothermia set in. He experienced no pain in his final moments and simply felt like he was falling asleep," she said.
She thanked fans for their prayers and support.
"There was not a more peaceful way for him to go into the arms of our Lord," she wrote, "and I know your prayers had a role in making that happen."
They had a 18 foot flat bottom john boat, without a motor. The area they were in was pretty protected from the 35 to 45 mph NW winds buffeting the area. Where they launched their boat, the winds would of been onshore. He made it out of the water and traveled 75 yards to the top of a hill where he ended up on his back. His arms were stretched out to his sides like a cross.
Wisconsin
EAST TROY, Wis. - Crews have suspended their search efforts for the day for a man who went missing at a frigid lake in southern Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Warden Jason Roberts says crews ended their search for the day Monday evening, but will resume their work Tuesday morning.
Searchers have been scouring Mill Lake, about 35 miles southeast of Milwaukee, since four men were reported missing Sunday.
Authorities in East Troy say the young men from Illinois were staying with friends at a lake house. They were reported missing after footprints leading to the boathouse were discovered in the snow and a canoe was spotted overturned in the lake.
Two men were found dead shortly after the search began. Authorities have identified those victims as 20-year-old Lanny Patrick Sack and 21-year-old Christopher J. McQuillan. A third body was recovered Monday afternoon, but that person wasn't immediately identified.
Cold water kills, Craig Stricktland most likely thought, great I'm out of the water. I know I have thought about that as I was traveling along the shore in a boat in the winter time. I would think to myself, Well I'm only a short way off shore maybe 20 or 30 yards, if something happens I can always make it to shore it's not that far.
Here's a guy who is in the prime of his life, in great shape and he didn't make it. What chance do we, who are older, and or less in shape, smoke maybe have to beat the odds. I think we are fooling ourselves, I know I am. When I was in Alaska, and went for that swim. I thought, heck that birds only 20 yards out, I can walk out and get it. Well when the bottom dropped away and I was only 5 or 6 yards out, it scared the hell out of me. The water was as cold as you can imagine. I turned around and prayed that there would be a bottom when I tried to touch it.
After your in a warm shower and back in a warm building, the only thing you can do is look back on it and laugh about how stupid you were and hope to never put yourself in that position again. My point is, when your out on the water and it's cold there isn't much room for error, and chances are the cold water is going to win.
Be safe out there.
Here's a link with great info on surviving cold water immersions.
http://api.viglink.com/api/click?fo...w.umanitoba.ca/faculties/kinre ... _faqs.html
