Courtesy Photo/Payne Springs Fire Rescue
A view of search efforts beginning late on the night of April 2 for a fisherman reported as having gone overboard into the waters of Cedar Creek Lake is provided by Payne Springs Fire Rescue, which said its volunteers were dispatched to a “boat incident” off the shore of Peninsula Point Terrace, a street west of Payne Springs. The body of that man, later identified as 42-year-old Sammy Matlock, of Mabank, was eventually recovered the evening of April 3 by Texas Game Wardens.

CEDAR CREEK LAKE–The body of a 42-year-old Mabank fisherman was recovered April 3 from Cedar Creek Lake, the evening after the boat carrying him and two other unidentified men began taking on water and capsized, which was reported on social media by Texas Game Wardens and Payne Springs Fire Rescue.
Game wardens’ account of the tragedy said the two other passengers successfully swam to shore and then contacted emergency services. Game wardens later identified the man as Sammy Matlock, 42, of Mabank. In that update about 24 hours after the saga started, game wardens reported that its agency and its Underwater Search and Recovery Team had located and recovered the man a few hours before.
The Texas Game Wardens post on Facebook continued: “Matlock was not able to make it to shore after the vessel he was in capsized on Cedar Creek Reservoir late last night. He was not wearing a personal floatation device.” Closing its social media reporting about the incident, Texas Game Wardens commented: “Our thoughts are with Mr. Matlock’s family and friends during this difficult time.”
Earlier the day of the recovery, at about noon, Texas Game Wardens had begun sharing details about what happened the night before. “Around 10:30pm on April 2, three men were fishing on Cedar Creek Reservoir near Payne Springs when their vessel began taking on water and capsized,” the game wardens said. “Two men were eventually able to make it to shore and contacted emergency services. The third man also attempted to swim to shore. Witnesses heard him call for help, but were unable to locate him.”
Also in the game wardens’ noon post, the agency stated that it and partner agencies were out on Cedar Creek Lake, searching for the missing 42-year-old man, who was later identified by authorities as Matlock. “Weather conditions and water depth are making the search challenging,” remarked Texas Game Wardens about the ongoing operation.
About three hours after Texas Game Wardens started sharing information, Payne Springs Fire Rescue (PSFR) began informing its social media readers about its part in the response.
PSFR recounted that it was summoned by dispatchers at about 10:52 p.m. April 2 to what it called a “reported boating incident on the lake in the area of Peninsula Point Terrace, with initial reports indicating one person was still in the water.”
A search of Henderson County Appraisal District (HCAD) online records shows that Peninsula Point Terrace properties are described as being in the Leisure Land subdivision, with others being condominiums. HCAD records map that area as the point where the Twin Creek arm of Cedar Creek Lake enters the main body of water, just south of Gun Barrel City.
Payne Springs Fire Rescue’s post continued about the first response: “Mutual aid was immediately requested for marine response from Long Cove Fire, Gun Barrel City Fire, and Trinidad Fire. PSFR Chief 1 and additional units arrived shortly after dispatch and confirmed that two occupants had made it safely to shore. One person remained unaccounted for.”
Also, according to PSFR,”(a) local resident quickly assisted by launching a pontoon boat, transporting a combination of firefighters and civilians to begin an initial surface search while additional rescue boats were en route.”
PSFR’s account stated its command requested aerial support from an auto recovery drone team, which the fire-rescue department said “responded directly to the scene” to assist with search operations. Payne Springs Fire Rescue also reported that two Texas game wardens responded with a boat to search for Matlock.
PSFR said initial search operations continued until about 2 a.m. April 3, about three hours after the fire-rescue department was first dispatched. PSFR said a decision had been made to suspend operations until daylight and that “the scene was then turned over to Texas Game Wardens, and all fire units were released.”
PSFR added that UT Health emergency medical services workers came to the scene and assisted search efforts and evaluated the two surviving fishermen who reached shore. One of those men was treated for cold exposure but both declined transport, PSFR reported.
In addition, PSFR shared that Payne Springs Police Department and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office were also early on the scene and “assisted as needed.”
PSFR gave its final update late in the morning of April 4. “Last night at approximately 2230 hours the Texas Game Wardens were able to locate and recover the missing boater.”