Fisherman Dies After Sampling Possible Brick of Cocaine Found Floating in Keys

NBC Miami ^ | Saturday, Jul 30, 2011 | Janie Campbell

[perfect stranger]

A Merrit Island fisherman died in a South Miami hospital on Thursday after sampling what may have been a brick of cocaine he found floating offshore in the Keys, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

Thomas Swindal, 53, was fishing with his brother near Marathon on Wednesday when they came across what appeared to be a kilo of cocaine floating in the water.

The pair discussed what to do with it, Kenneth Swindal told authorities, and shortly stored it in the bait well of their boat and resumed fishing.

Minutes later, Kenneth Swindal said, he saw his brother open the package and sample the contents.

Thomas Swindal began acting strangely about 90 minutes later, according to his brother, running around the boat and tossing vital equipment overboard including a VHF radio and cell phone.

[TigersEye]

The floating brick was not recovered.

The evidence disappeared. Toxicology results will be interesting.

[Enchante]

very sad

If facts are as reported he is a definite Darwin Award winner — what a flippin’ dumb nut.

[absolootezer0]

When you turn something you found into the cops and nobody claims it you get to keep it after 90 days right?

not anymore. there have been a couple articles in the last few months about police in texas confiscating unclaimed cash and putting it in their coffers rather that give it to the person that turned it in.

[absolootezer0]

you’d think a kilo of drugs would sink.
and 90 minutes? no way. not unless he sampled it multiple times until it finally built to the break point.

[marine86297]

Don't worry, I'll get to the bottom of this!