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Swimmer's body recovered from lake at Portage Lakes State Park: ODNR
AKRON, Ohio (WJW) — Search teams have recovered the body of a swimmer who investigators said went missing at Portage Lakes State Park on Tuesday.
Witnesses said the man was in the designated swimming area when he went underwater but did not resurface, according to an Ohio Department of Natural Resources spokesperson.
According to the New Franklin Fire Department, around 6:45 p.m., divers found the man's body in 10 feet of water about 150 feet from the shore.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim was identified as Walter O'Neil Cox, 49, of Akron.
ONDR said an autopsy will be performed.
'Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they try to come to grips with this tragicaccident,' the fire department said in a release.
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The beach area remained closed during the search, according to a spokesperson.
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One person died following a water rescue last week at the park.
That victim's vehicle was found submerged near a boat launch in New Franklin just after 6 a.m. on Thursday, June 19, according to officials.
First responders tried to resuscitate that person, but they later died at a hospital.
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