HILLSBORO, Ohio – A 16-year-old girl saved her brother’s life Tuesday night after the couple fell through the ice that covered Rocky Fork Lake in east Cincinnati, Ohio. Tragically, emergency agents he could not save his.
The 13-year-old was freezing and calling for help when a construction worker found him around 6:30 p.m. EST, according to Lt. Branden Jackman of the EMS and Fire District.
His department responded, flanked by Ohio Department of Natural Resources crews and diving teams trained to conduct ice rescues.
They recovered the girl’s body around 11 p.m. EST, Jackman said.
The boy was hospitalized with hypothermia at Highland District Hospital.
“After the fact, it turns out he pulled it out before he succumbed,” Jackman said. “Don’t go out on the ice. Last night it caused a very bad tragedy. “
The girl’s identity had not been made public Wednesday night. Jackman said the tragedy should remind people that they would not risk their lives walking on frozen bodies of water.
“You look at the water and you think,‘ Oh, it’s just water, ’” he said. “Thirty-six degrees of water is no different from a three-story fire. They will both kill you just as fast. ”
ODNR agent Jason Lagore suffered a “medical emergency” at the scene during the early stages of the rescue, according to department spokeswoman Stephanie O’Grady.
First responders transported Lagore to Highland District Hospital, but he could not be resuscitated. Lagore had worked in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for 15 years and was known for his experience in K-9.
READ: ODNR officer who drowned was a 15-year veteran K-9 expert
The Highland County Sheriff’s Office assists the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in investigating the incident.
This story was originally published by Abby Dawn at WCPO.