ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, April 30, 1996                TAG: 9604300117
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-3  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: BEDFORD
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER 

3-YEAR-OLD BOY DROWNS IN LAKE

The 3-year-old grandson of Del. Vic Thomas, D-Roanoke, drowned Sunday afternoon while visiting Thomas' home at Smith Mountain Lake.

Cole Patrick Thomas was found floating in the water about 3:45 p.m. by his father, Thomas P. Thomas of Roanoke, according to Sgt. Ricky Gardner of the Bedford County Sheriff's Office.

The child was sitting on a sofa watching a "Winnie The Pooh" videotape at his grandfather's house in Hickory Cove subdivision when relatives last saw him, Gardner said. The boy apparently wandered outside and fell in the water.

Volunteer rescuers attempted to resuscitate the boy at the scene. He was transported to Bedford County Memorial Hospital, where he died, Gardner said.

Cole Thomas was the only child of Thomas and Shari Thomas.

LENGTH: Short :   26 lines
KEYWORDS: FATALITY