WINDSOR – A body discovered by a fisherman floating in the Cashie River Monday afternoon has been identified as a Bertie County man believed to be the victim of an accidental drowning.

The deceased has been identified as Charlie Mizelle, 66, of 446 Pocosin Road in Windsor.

The call to report the incident came into the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office on Monday around 2:49 p.m. according to Sheriff John Holley.

“Our office received a call of man overboard, face down in the Cashie River,” said the Sheriff.

The Sheriff went on to say an unidentified boater had noticed in passing earlier in the day that Mizelle was fishing from a 12’ aluminum boat in the Cashie River approximately one-half mile from the NC-45 bridge near the San Souci Ferry boat landing.

However, when the same boater returned upriver later that afternoon, he noticed the boat from which Mizelle had been fishing was now empty.  As the boater approached the empty vessel, he noticed a body floating in the river, later identified to be Mizelle.

While the drowning is believed to be accidental, Mizelle’s body was transported to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville where final results on the death are pending the pathologist’s report.

Sheriff Holley said additional assistance in the recovery was provided by Bertie County Emergency Services, along with agents of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, and the North Carolina Highway Patrol, as well as other sheriff’s deputies.