OHIO — A man and his two dogs were found dead in an icy lake at VOA Metro Park in West Chester on Wednesday following a large, multi-agency search effort.
The incident began when park maintenance workers discovered personal items near the edge of a lake and became concerned that someone may have entered the water. Emergency crews were notified and quickly responded to the scene, beginning a search of the lake.
During the search, responders recovered one dog from the water. Shortly afterward, crews located and recovered the body of a man, along with a second dog. Authorities described a significant response at the park, with multiple agencies assisting in the operation.
Aerial views of the scene showed two boats in the water, divers rotating in and out of the lake, and a fire truck ladder positioned above the water to give crews an overhead view. Responders from Task Force One, Liberty Township, Deerfield Township, and West Chester were all involved.
Officials said crews used sonar technology to search the lake before dive teams were called in to recover the bodies. Investigators believe one of the dogs may have run into the water, possibly while chasing geese, and the man entered the lake in an attempt to retrieve the animal.
