Searchenters3rd day for missing New Fairfield swimmer in Ridgefield lake

Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·2 min read

Aug. 16—"We don't know the reason for the drowning at this point, that's something that's usually discovered at the autopsy," Ridgefield Police Capt. Jeff Raines said Wednesday morning.

The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is the agency tasked with investigating untimely deaths, including accidental drownings. Prior to this incident, the medical examiner said there have been 14 reported drowning deaths in Connecticut so far this year. Of those, eight were accidental, according to the medical examiner data.

On Wednesday, dive teams from multiple agencies combed the lake in motorboats. The search included the use of an underwater drone that could be operated from the surface, according to Mike McCarthy, chief of the Newtown Underwater Search & Rescue.

Other assisting agencies at the scene included Brookfield and Danbury police, Norwalk and Westport dive teams and a New Milford fire company.

McCarthy said Tuesday the victim was presumed dead based on the warmth of the water. Because cold water forces a person's body to constrict, the vital organs have more oxygen in cold temperatures, extending the time authorities have to perform a rescue, he said.

"Anything below 60 gives us more of a chance of doing a rescue within that one hour, one hour and-a-half time frame," McCarthy said Tuesday.

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The water temperature of the lake registered at 78 degrees, McCarthy said Tuesday.

First Selectman Rudy Marconi said Tuesday the lake has many weeds, which can make it "impossible" to get out. That was apparently the case during a previous drowning involving a capsized kayaker.

Raines said Wednesday he was told the lake contained a lot of "milfoils," a type of weed.

Authorities said the man went missing Monday afternoon while swimming with a companion. The man went under the water and did not resurface, Ridgefield Fire Chief Jerry Myers said. The other swimmer got to shore and called authorities, he said.