Search for man who fell off boat continues

The search for a man whom authorities believe drowned Sunday night at Alum Creek State Park continued all day Monday, as sonar equipment explored through deep, cloudy water.

Early in the day, a sobbing woman was consoled by another, believed to be the mother of the apparent victim as a search boat was launched from the eastern shores of Alum Creek Lake.

The man, said to be 29-years-old, fell overboard near the beach on the reservoir’s western shores just after 4 p.m. Others, including children, also were reported to be overboard but made it out safely, said Lt. Jeff Baker of the Ohio Department of Natural Resourced Division of Parks and Watercraft.

Early reports indicated the board may have struck choppy water or a wave, causing the man to fall out. Authorities have not released the man’s identity. Family and friends huddled together throughout the day, declining to speak to reporters. Orange Township Fire Department crews assisted state officials with the search, which was suspended at nightfall Sunday. It was unclear how long the work would continue Monday.

At least one boat had picked up a sonar signal Monday. But motion in the water from wind gusts caused crews to lose track of it. The search will continue and expand as long as it takes, Baker said.

Baker said the response Crews from the Ohio Department of Natural Resourced Division of Parks and Watercraft prepare to launch a boat into Alum Creek Lake on Monday to search for the body of boater who went overboard Sunday evening. might have been hampered by a language barrier. The victim and those with him speak Spanish. Authorities believe 10 to 20 minutes elapsed between the man’s submersion to when when 911 was called.

Baker said search crews have a general idea about the location of the boat at the time the man went overboard, even though, “There’s some confusion on where the boat actually was and the wind.”

Baker cautioned boaters to always use flotation devices, follow safe practices and know exactly where they are when boating.

“They may say, ‘I’m in a cove,’” said Baker. “Well, Alum Creek has 30 to 40 coves in it.”