NEW UPDATE: Deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office have released the identity of the 28-year-old drowning victim from Saturday’s tragic incident at Adventure Trails campground, 3299 State Route 540, Bellefontaine.
The body of Cody Johnson, who reportedly resided in Marysville with his girlfriend, but had license identification with a St. Paris address, was recovered from the campground pond about 7:30 p.m. Saturday with the assistance of Ohio Department of Natural Resources sonar equipment and the Columbus Fire Division dive team.
UPDATE: The body of a 28-year-old Marysville man who drowned was recovered Saturday evening, Sept. 6, from a pond at Adventure Trails campground, 3299 State Route 540, Bellefontaine, deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office reported about 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Deputies have not yet released the man’s identity.
He took his girlfriend’s five-year-old daughter out in a canoe Saturday afternoon when the vessel took on water causing it to capsize. The child was rescued by her mother, but the man entered the water and did not resurface.
Check back for updates.
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Deputies from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office and multiple emergency crews launched a water search Saturday afternoon, Sept. 6, after a 28-year-old Marysville man went missing while canoeing at Adventure Trails campground, 3299 State Route 540, Bellefontaine.
The Logan County Dispatch Center received a frantic 911 call at 1:16 p.m. reporting that the man had gone into the water and had not resurfaced. Deputies, along with Bellefontaine Fire and EMS and Tri-Valley EMS, responded to the scene.
When deputies Core and Finefrock arrived about 1:23 p.m., bystanders were already in the water attempting to rescue the man. Deputies removed their duty gear and entered the pond, swimming out 30-40 feet to bring an adult male and female — who attempted to rescue the victim — back to shore.
Multiple dives were attempted, but the missing man could not be located.
According to investigators, the man had taken his girlfriend’s 5-year-old daughter out on a canoe when the child began screaming as the vessel took on water. The child’s mother paddled out in a kayak, retrieved her daughter safely, and then swam back to the overturned canoe. Neither adult was wearing a life jacket.
Deputy Core swam out to retrieve the girlfriend, who was exhausted after swimming back to the canoe in an attempt to find her boyfriend.
The girlfriend, also of Marysville, told deputies she believed her boyfriend may have gone under the canoe before disappearing. The couple was spending the weekend at the campground, she said.
The man’s father, who was also at the campground, told deputies his son was not a strong swimmer.
Dive teams from the Indian Joint Fire District conducted grid searches for several hours but had not located the victim by late afternoon. Columbus Division of Fire was called to assist with sonar equipment, a boat, and additional divers.
Search and rescue efforts were continuing as of Saturday evening. Authorities have not released the man’s identity.
Updates on this story will be posted as they become available.
