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Missing Boater Recovered Off Hillsboro Inlet

HILLSBORO BEACH (CBS4) – Police divers have recovered the body of a man who disappeared after a boat he was in sank near the Hillsboro Inlet.

Just after 10 p.m., Kenneth Williams of Deerfield Beach, his 9-year old son and a friend, David Goodrum, were fishing in a 15-boat near the inlet when it began taking on water. As the boat sank, all three were thrown into water.

Goodrum and the boy, who were wearing life jackets, swam to the seawall. They were rescued by residents of a nearby apartment who heard their screams for help, according to Broward Sheriff's Office spokesman Mike Jachles.

Williams, who was not wearing a life jacket, was last seen drifting towards the Hillsboro Inlet Bridge.

A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boat was in the area and quickly arrived on scene along with Pompano Beach Fire Rescue divers, Broward Sheriff's Office deputies, Deerfield Beach Fire Rescue, Hillsboro Beach police, U. S. Coast Guard and rescue divers from Davie Fire Rescue Department.

Several hours into the search, police divers recovered William's body.

Williams' family says he saved the life of his son, Kenneth Jr.

His older brother, Johnny Williams told CBS4's Natalia Zea, "...his son being there with him, he didn't want to take his son down with him; so he pushed his son away trying to minimize the damage and his son was able to swim to shore."

Kenneth Senior's wife Johanna Williams said, "He did what he was supposed to…he's supposed to save his son."

Johnny recalled the phone call he got Monday night when his brother disappeared.

"His wife called me frantically, they can't find him! They cant find him! What do you mean you can't find him?...It's like a movie! I woke up this morning. I can't believe it," cried Johnny.

Kenneth Senior and Johanna were high school sweethearts, and had two boys. Johanna believes her husband's final actions were for his family.

"He would do anything for us," Johanna said. "We were everything for him, me and the boys so it doesn't surprise me that that's what his last wishes were."

The only comfort the Williams family has is knowing Williams was deeply religious, and died doing what he loved.

Investigators found a third life jacket on that boat, but they don't know why Williams was not wearing it.

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