A 72-years-old man has died after he went outside during Hurricane Ian to drain his pool.
The incident occurred Thursday around 1:00 a.m. at a home on Poinciana Lane near Lake Bethel.
The victim’s wife called authorities stating that her husband walked outside and disappeared:
“The victim’s wife reported he disappeared after heading outside,” the sheriff’s office says in a Facebook post. “While searching for him, deputies found his flashlight, then spotted the victim unresponsive in a canal behind the home.”
First responders performed CPR on the victim until paramedics arrived, however, he could not be revived.
Investigators believe that the victim may have slipped on the wet grass and fell down the hill:
“The initial investigation indicates the victim was using a hose to drain the pool down a hill and into a 30-foot-wide canal, where a steep decline into the water was extremely soft and slippery due to the heavy rain,” deputies say in the Facebook post. “The Sheriff’s Office sends its sincere condolences to the victim’s family.”