pgvoutdoors
08-30-2011, 11:13 AM
Missing Euclid kayaker found deadTuesday, August 30, 2011By Michael C. Butz
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http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2011/08/30/news/doc4e5ba58e63b7e653414074.txt?viewmode=default
The Euclid kayaker who went missing Saturday afternoon was found dead Monday morning.
The body of Vincent Germano, 43, of 20851 Edgecliff Drive, was found at 7:17 a.m. washed ashore at Maple City Beach in Cleveland, said Seaman Matthew Whalen of Coast Guard Station Cleveland Harbor. Maple City Beach is just east of Northeast Yacht Club, 14021 Lake Shore Blvd., Whalen said.
Euclid Detective Sgt. Mitch Houser said Germano was found by a resident walking in that area, which he identified as Dalwood Beach Club located at the north end of Dalwood Drive. That person then called Cleveland police, who subsequently contacted all of the investigating agencies, Houser said.
Photos taken at the scene were shown to family members who identified the victim as Germano, though an official determination will be made by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office, Houser said.
Watercraft investigator Richard McCullough, with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft, said Germano and his dog went into Lake Erie about 12:30 Saturday afternoon and that they were last seen kayaking about 1 p.m.
About 3 p.m., Germanos dog showed up at his residence without him. Germanos family thought hed dropped off the dog and went back to socialize at a party taking place at a nearby beach club, McCullough said.
Family members became concerned on Sunday when Germano hadnt returned home and hadnt tried to contact them. Germanos kayak was found on shore a few blocks from his residence on Sunday afternoon, according to previous reports.
About 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Euclid Police notified the Coast Guard that Germano was overdue. The Coast Guard, ODNR and police conducted a search throughout the evening.
Upon subsequent investigation of the incident, McCullough said Germanos dog was wearing a life jacket, but that as a result, there wasnt a life jacket available on the kayak for Germano to wear.
So when something went wrong, he didnt have one available to save his life which is certainly something we dont like to see, McCullough said.
We like to see people wearing life jackets, he said.
While were not sure just exactly what happened right now. It certainly wouldve helped him had he had one and been wearing it.
The investigation hasnt uncovered how the dog got ashore or how Germanos kayak ended up where it did, McCullough said, adding that his agency is gathering information regarding the water conditions at the approximate time of the incident.
Germanos death marks the 11th boating-related fatality in Ohio this year, said ODNR Division of Watercraft spokesman John Wisse. Of those 11, three have occurred on Lake Erie, including the June death of former Mentor firefighter and Fairport Harbor Police Chief Robert V. Dilgren, who was kayaking in the area of Overlook Drive in Mentor.
Five of those 11 deaths have been the result of drowning.
At this point last year, 15 boating-related deaths had been recorded in Ohio six of them on Lake Erie. Four of those 15 were drownings, two of them in Cuyahoga County, Wisse said.
Generally speaking, kayaks are safe, but the proper safety measures must always be taken especially on Lake Erie, McCullough said.
People go out there to have fun and for enjoyment, but if something happens to you in the lake, you might not be able to recover from it, he said.
The ODNR will handle the investigation as a boating incident.
[email protected]
http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2011/08/30/news/doc4e5ba58e63b7e653414074.txt?viewmode=default
The Euclid kayaker who went missing Saturday afternoon was found dead Monday morning.
The body of Vincent Germano, 43, of 20851 Edgecliff Drive, was found at 7:17 a.m. washed ashore at Maple City Beach in Cleveland, said Seaman Matthew Whalen of Coast Guard Station Cleveland Harbor. Maple City Beach is just east of Northeast Yacht Club, 14021 Lake Shore Blvd., Whalen said.
Euclid Detective Sgt. Mitch Houser said Germano was found by a resident walking in that area, which he identified as Dalwood Beach Club located at the north end of Dalwood Drive. That person then called Cleveland police, who subsequently contacted all of the investigating agencies, Houser said.
Photos taken at the scene were shown to family members who identified the victim as Germano, though an official determination will be made by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office, Houser said.
Watercraft investigator Richard McCullough, with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft, said Germano and his dog went into Lake Erie about 12:30 Saturday afternoon and that they were last seen kayaking about 1 p.m.
About 3 p.m., Germanos dog showed up at his residence without him. Germanos family thought hed dropped off the dog and went back to socialize at a party taking place at a nearby beach club, McCullough said.
Family members became concerned on Sunday when Germano hadnt returned home and hadnt tried to contact them. Germanos kayak was found on shore a few blocks from his residence on Sunday afternoon, according to previous reports.
About 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Euclid Police notified the Coast Guard that Germano was overdue. The Coast Guard, ODNR and police conducted a search throughout the evening.
Upon subsequent investigation of the incident, McCullough said Germanos dog was wearing a life jacket, but that as a result, there wasnt a life jacket available on the kayak for Germano to wear.
So when something went wrong, he didnt have one available to save his life which is certainly something we dont like to see, McCullough said.
We like to see people wearing life jackets, he said.
While were not sure just exactly what happened right now. It certainly wouldve helped him had he had one and been wearing it.
The investigation hasnt uncovered how the dog got ashore or how Germanos kayak ended up where it did, McCullough said, adding that his agency is gathering information regarding the water conditions at the approximate time of the incident.
Germanos death marks the 11th boating-related fatality in Ohio this year, said ODNR Division of Watercraft spokesman John Wisse. Of those 11, three have occurred on Lake Erie, including the June death of former Mentor firefighter and Fairport Harbor Police Chief Robert V. Dilgren, who was kayaking in the area of Overlook Drive in Mentor.
Five of those 11 deaths have been the result of drowning.
At this point last year, 15 boating-related deaths had been recorded in Ohio six of them on Lake Erie. Four of those 15 were drownings, two of them in Cuyahoga County, Wisse said.
Generally speaking, kayaks are safe, but the proper safety measures must always be taken especially on Lake Erie, McCullough said.
People go out there to have fun and for enjoyment, but if something happens to you in the lake, you might not be able to recover from it, he said.
The ODNR will handle the investigation as a boating incident.