A 24-year-old Westport man drowned yesterday evening after falling into several feet of water while fishing in Smith Cove in Southwest Baltimore, police said.

The man, a resident of the 2200 block of Cedley St., was fishing with two male friends from a concrete pier when a piece of wood he was standing on gave way, causing him to fall through a hole and into the water, said Sgt. Richard Petrey of the city police homicide squad.

The man had been fishing shortly after 7 p.m. near a former Baltimore Gas & Electric building off the 2100 block of Kloman St. He fell into part of the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River.

Police said the victim was alone when he fell into a hole about 8 feet deep. When one of his companions realized he was not nearby, the friend looked into the water and noticed one of the victim's tennis shoes floating in the water. Someone then called 911.

His body was recovered about 30 minutes later by firefighters.

At the scene, Patricia Chance identified the victim as Donte Chase of the 2200 block of Cedley St., who was engaged to marry her daughter this year and had two children by his fiancee.