The body of a Newton County man has been recovered following a boating accident Saturday at Turkey Creek Water Park, located about 5 miles southwest of Decatur.

    Newton County Coroner Danny Shoemaker said the boater’s body was recovered around 2:30 p.m. Sunday, and has been identified as 47-year-old Theodore Earl Forte.

    Newton Fire Chief Steven Kelly said they received a call around 5:20 p.m. Saturday. According to witnesses, the boat was going at an excessive speed across the water when it flipped backward, Kelly said.

    The Philadelphia Fire Department Dive Team was called to assist in finding the boater, the fire chief said.

    “Officials stayed in the water until around midnight, but had to call off the search due to safety concerns because of the cold,” Kelly said. “We had one diver from Newton that was sent to the hospital for hypothermia, but has since been treated and released.”

    Shoemaker said the body has been sent to Pearl for an autopsy to determine cause of death.

    Assisting in the rescue were Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks; Philadelphia Fire and Dive Team; Newton Fire Department; Decatur Fire Department; Life Care EMS; and Newton County Sheriff’s Department