A fisherman who had dived in and out of Bahamian waters for the past 20 years apparently drowned in waters at the western end of Potter’s Cay Dock early Monday morning, according to police.

Up to press time police officials were still investigating the apparent drowning of 39-year-old Rodger Chris Miller and could not say if foul play was suspected.

Assistant Superintendent of Police and Officer in Charge of the Paradise Island and Potter’s Cay Dock police stations Mario Johnson said officers got the call just after 9:00 a.m.

“At about 9:35 a.m. the police at Potter’s Cay Dock Police Station received reports of a dark male floating in waters on the western side of the dock,” he said. “The body was retrieved from the waters by bystanders. Eventually EMS personnel arrived on the scene where they examined the body and they found he was unresponsive.

“Indications at this time show that he may have drowned, however, I cannot come to a conclusion on that as investigations are ongoing.”

ASP Johnson said police are also unsure how long Miller’s body had been floating in waters before it was fished out.

Family members of the deceased stood by and watched as police carried out their investigations and as he was wheeled into a waiting hearse.

The fisherman’s mother, Florence Miller watched as the body of her oldest child was taken away.

She told reporters that he was the father of seven children ranging in ages from early 20’s to 14-years-old.

“I just spoke to him for the last time earlier this morning,” she added. “I told him that I hoped he hadn’t been drinking today and he told me that he hadn’t. He said he had just gotten back from a fishing trip and that he was about to dive some conch for someone.

“He left and as I was pulling off he knocked on the car window and said, ‘Love you,’ and he was gone. That was around 7:30 this morning and around 9:30 I heard he had drowned.”

Mrs. Miller said her son was a licensed fisherman with more than two decades under his belt.

“My son was an average guy,” she said. “Whenever he would leave tog o fishing he would call me and if bad weather met them anyplace he would call and say ‘Mom I love you,’ he used to go to Chub Cay most of the time. I can’t say if his drinking had anything to do with it because it didn’t seem like he was that intoxicated and also he had already dived more than 300 conchs.”

Also on the scene was one of Miller’s co-workers who said they had just returned from fishing for conch in Eleuthera Sunday evening and spent the day on the dock sorting out their catch for sales.

He said Miller woke up Monday morning and went diving again, his last trip in the ocean he had grown up swimming in.

The man who spoke to the Bahama Journal anonymously also expressed disappointment at those who were fetching Miller’s catch and charged that they should have paid more attention to how long he stayed under water and called for help.

Family members said Miller died right behind the stall his grandmother owned some years ago on Potter’s Cay Dock.

Police investigations are ongoing.