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Man dies while swimming in Shadow Lake
(by Sue Reid - June 30, 2010)
Man dies while swimming in Shadow Lake
By SUE HOFFMAN
A 45-year-old Garfield Heights man who went under water while swimming in Shadow Lake in the Cleveland Metroparks South Chagrin Reservation in Solon last Sunday was found dead.
David Hall was last seen 50 yards from shore, Dianna Kall, public information officer of the Cleveland Metroparks Rangers, said. The rangers received a call at 5:40 p.m. Sunday from the Oakwood Police Department, which had received a 911 call, she said.
A three-hour search Sunday evening was suspended because of thunderstorms and was resumed at 8 a.m. Monday, Ms. Kall said. The body was recovered from the lake about 11:35 a.m. and taken to the Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office.
Cornoner's office spokesman Powell Caesar said Tuesday that the cause of Mr. Hall's death "is still under review."
If the death is a confirmed drowning, it would be the first such incident in the South Chagrin Reservation during his 25-year tenure, Chief Ranger Gregory M. Loftus said Tuesday.
Solon Fire Chief William Shaw said his department was called by Metroparks rangers at about 6:15 p.m. Sunday, "indicating a possible drowning victim." Units from Fire Station No. 1 responded, he said.
According to Mr. Shaw and Ms. Kall, Mr. Hall was at a gathering of family and friends at the lake. Witnesses told authorities he went for a swim in the lake, began to struggle, went under water and did not resurface.
Family members called a friend who is an Oakwood Village police officer for help, Mr. Shaw said.
Assisting the rangers were the Solon Fire Department, which served as incident command staff, the Hillcrest Technical Rescue Team and the Brecksville Fire Department.
"The area was searched in the event he might have gotten out," Mr. Shaw said.
The Hillcrest Technical Rescue Team, which serves local communities, brought rescue dogs, Mr. Shaw said. The dogs were put on a boat that was taken into the lake and "they were able to pick up a scent," he said.
The Brecksville Fire Department brought sonar, which is underwater radar, to help with the effort. Once the area was located, divers from the Hillcrest Technical Rescue Team went into the lake, Mr. Shaw said.
Shadow Lake "is not an authorized swimming area," Ms. Kall said. The lake is 13 to 15 feet at its deepest point and measures about 100 to 150 yards wide, she said.
Ms. Kall said the lake did not have any "no swimming" signs. She said the only authorized swimming areas in the Metroparks are on the west side of Cleveland.
"We're still interviewing witnesses," she said.
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