SANFORD, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) -
A boater is dead after crashing into a channel marker and falling into Lake Monroe.
"We're going to miss him. We believe that he's in a better place," said Sanford Pastor Benjamin Adams of one of his congregants, 66-year-old William Eiland.
Known as Brother Eiland, he was the maintenance man and leader of their men's choir at Rejected Stone Full Mission Non Denominational Christian Church.
"The church members, the deacons, and officers of the church, we're in a state of shock. We can't believe this has happened," said Pastor Adams.
Officials recovered Eiland's body around 6 p.m. Monday after searching with helicopter and dive team units. Officials said Eiland was ejected from his boat into the water when he hit channel marker 14 near the Sanford seawall around 4:15 p.m. They don't know what caused the crash.
Church members say Eiland was an avid fisherman and loved to go out on his boat at Lake Monroe.
