A PIKE fisherman whose body was pulled from Coniston Water died of a heart attack, it has emerged.
A large scale search was launched for father-of-two Dr Jim Fowler after fishing tackle, clothes and a kayak were found on the lake’s shoreline.
The eminent ornithologist’s body was recovered from the depths of the lake by divers in the Low Water area.
His kayak was found on the opposite side of the lake, near Nibthwaite, after high winds blew it that way.
Dr Fowler’s son, Alun, said: “It appears my father was a bit of a ticking time-bomb. If he had to go anywhere, I’m glad it was on Coniston and not in the middle of a supermarket somewhere.
“This man, as well as being a father to me and my brother Carwyn, was among our best friends.
“It was a hell of a shock for him to go so suddenly but we have got a lot of consolation from the great memories we have of him.”
Dr Alun Fowler said his father, a 67-year-old from Askam-in-Furness, was attempting to fish on every lake in the Lake District, and had almost fulfilled the mission when he went to Coniston last Thursday.
He had recently returned from a month-long bird-watching trip to Australia.
Simon Coller, who Dr Fowler stayed with, said: “He passed away doing what he loved on a beloved lake in a beautiful part of the world.
“What he had was passion in bucket-loads for those he cared about – and it was infectious.”
Dr Fowler was born in Cardiff, and brought up in Essex. He lived in New Zealand for a number of years and led a scientific party to the Antarctic.
After moving back to England, he earned a doctorate in biochemistry, and was a lecturer in environmental science at Leicester’s De Montfort University.
He led expeditions to Shetland every summer for 25 years to monitor the impact of the oil industry on rocky shore wildlife.
It was during these trips that students christened Dr Fowler ‘the Maalie King’, after a bird which lives there.
He retired and moved to Askam in 2002, taking on a key role studying marsh tits for Natural England around Bardsea Wood.
He also set up the ‘01229 Ringing Club’, an alliance of bird ringers.
Alan Piper, owner of The Sun restaurant and hotel in Coniston, was the man who reported that there was something amiss after guests came across the fishing tackle and clothing on Friday morning.
“When I looked at the bits and bobs lying around I thought there' was something a bit odd.” he said.
Jenny Holden, a wildlife consultant from Ulverston, said she and Dr Fowler became close friends after he moved to Cumbria.
“He was a most excellent and intelligent man, friend and mentor. I miss his daily mickey-taking and I’m really sad.”
Ken Hindmarch, a member of the ringing club, said: “He was good at everything. He had this boyish enthusiasm and was always a prime mover – he never stopped.”
Dr Fowler’s body sank rather than floated, which suggested that he was not wearing a buoyancy aid or life jacket, according to a watersports expert.
Johan Hoving, senior instructor and a partner at River Deep Mountain High outdoor activity specialists near Lowick, advised kayakers to always wear a life jacket or buoyancy aid even if they were simply fishing near a shoreline.
Fishermen should also wear a leash linking them to their boats, check the weather before going out on the water and not go alone on trips.
Details of the death have been passed to the south and east Cumbria coroner.
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